Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has reportedly selected Hakan Calhanoglu as the player he wants to replace Rodri in January.
Manchester City made an impressive start to the Premier League season, securing seven wins in their first nine games. However, they have now lost their last two matches, struggling without Rodri in midfield.
Rodri, who won the Ballon d’Or in October, suffered a serious knee injury against Arsenal on September 22, ruling him out for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL.
There have been speculations that City will sign a replacement for Rodri in the winter transfer window, with Spanish reports claiming that Guardiola has set his sights on Inter Milan’s Calhanoglu.
The experienced Turkish international is known for his vision, passing precision, and powerful shots from distance—traits that Guardiola values and which remind him of Rodri’s offensive contributions during crucial moments.
Manchester City is reportedly willing to offer €45 million (£37 million) for Calhanoglu in January, and while Inter Milan is reluctant to sell, they may be open to negotiations due to the potential windfall for a player approaching 31.
Despite the differences between Serie A and the Premier League, Guardiola is confident that Calhanoglu will quickly adjust to City’s playing style.
Additionally, reports suggest that City has withdrawn from negotiations for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, as they have lost interest after seeing his recent performances.
Man City suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday, with former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp describing the second half of their performance as “one of the worst halves of football” he’s ever seen from a Guardiola team. Redknapp commented on Sky Sports, saying, “That was one of the worst halves of football I’ve seen from a Pep Guardiola side.”
“They were disappointing; they didn’t defend, they lost individual battles, and they didn’t pass the ball forward. In the first half, they were excellent and should have been 3-0 up.
“When Hurzeler made the substitutions in the second half, it was clear which team was going to win. Once the game started slipping away, it came down to the characters on the field.
“Who is going to step up? Who will take control of the ball when needed most? Who will calm the team down? There was no one to do that.”
