The perfect midfielder for Manchester City may be unavailable to sign in January

It is no secret that Manchester City need to sign another midfielder in January. The loss of Rodri has been a hammer blow to Pep Guardiola’s squad. Without their midfield general, City has struggled, especially of late. The loss of Mateo Kovacic for a month to injury has further amplified this issue. As per a report from Jack Gaughan for the Daily Mail, Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad and Atalanta’s midfield workhorse Ederson have emerged as City’s preferred targets in January.

But now a new report indicates that Atalanta is unlikely to sell Ederson in January. If that is the case then the perfect midfielder to complement City’s squad may be off the table. That may force the world champions to look elsewhere in a bid to strengthen their midfield in just over a month.

Danny Rust and Dean Jones have reported for GIVEMESPORT that Atalanta is unwilling to sell Ederson in January. Furthermore, Rust and Jones add that the Serie A club want to keep the Brazilian midfielder as they cause the first Serie A title in the club’s history. Given Ederson’s importance to their team, they are determined to keep him at the club. Lastly, Rust and Jones add that Manchester United are also interested in signing the midfielder in January.

It appears that Manchester City will have to look elsewhere in their chase for a midfielder.

In terms of the boxes required to play in Pep Guardiola’s midfield, Ederson ticks nearly every box. He can play as a number 6 or an 8, and his game looks to be one that would complement Rodri’s game when he eventually returns from the knee injury that ended his season. Ederson would also immensely improve City’s midfield stocks in January given his talent and versatility.

But it appears that there is now little to no hope that the world champions could land the Brazilian midfielder in January. The report from GIVEMESPORT  indicates that City will have to look elsewhere in January. Jack Gaughan’s report suggests that Martin Zubimendi may now be the midfielder City move for in January. There may yet be other midfielders the champions could target as well now that it appears that Ederson is likely unavailable.

January is looming as a crucial month for Manchester City. They appear in desperate need of a midfielder and  the ideal player to strengthen City’s midfield looks to be off the table. It will be interesting to see who Manchester City may move for now given Atalanta’s reported reluctance to sell one of their most important players.