Man City ready bid to land £21m sensation after Marmoush

Manchester City have certainly meant business during the current January transfer window, making three signings over the last few weeks.

Pep Guardiola may be going through the worst run of form during his 16-year managerial career, but it looks as though he is planning ahead for the future with regard to his new arrivals.

While the Premier League title may be out of reach this term, the Spaniard signed a new two-year extension late last year, signalling his intent to get the club back to where they belong.

There is just over a week left of the transfer window, but will City make another signing in that time?

It is no coincidence that City’s form has dropped off a cliff since Rodri suffered his season ending injury back in September. Will the club seek to sign a player who could turn out be to a younger version of the Spanish gem?

Manchester City’s search for a midfielder

So far, Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov have all arrived in Manchester this month, bolstering Guardiola’s attacking and defensive options.

Two areas that needed some reinforcements have now been strengthened. Will City’s midfield be next?

According to reports in Spain

, City are showing interest in midfielder Mikel Jauregizar, who plays for Athletic Bilbao.

Having scoured the transfer markets for midfield candidates, it appears as though Guardiola has found his man and is prepared to launch an opening bid of €25m (£21m) to secure his signature.

The report does on to say that any deal will likely take place in the summer, but having a plan in place will see another young talent arrive at the Etihad.

Douglas Luiz has also been targeted by City as a potential signing, but Juventus don’t want to sell which means any move would only be temporary between now and the end of the season.

Jauregizar has all the qualities in his armoury to become Rodri 2.0 for Guardiola in Manchester, that’s for sure.

Rodri’s Manchester City statistics

In the summer of 2019, having just won their second Premier League title in a row, City broke their club record by spending £62.8m to sign Rodri from Atlético Madrid.

“Rodri has proven himself as a hugely talented, young midfielder,” said director of football Txiki Begiristain. “He has as all the attributes we are looking for.”

The midfielder has since proved to be one of Guardiola’s finest signings of his career.

Across his first three seasons, Rodri missed just 12 Premier League matches, but the 2022/23 campaign saw the midfielder establish himself as one of the best in the world.

The Etihad side won the treble of Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League that term, but Rodri conducted the orchestra.

Across the league campaign, the Spaniard averaged a 91% pass success rate, while creating nine big chances, making 1.9 tackles and winning an impressive 59% of his total duels per match.

If this season proved Rodri belonged among the best players in the world, his 2023/24 displays proved he wasn’t a one-season wonder.

He helped his club win another league title, before starring for Spain at Euro 2024, as his nation won every game to win their fourth continental crown.

The 28-year-old subsequently won the Ballon d’Or for playing a key role in the success of his club and country.

His injury this season has hampered the club’s chances of winning five league titles in a row. By signing Jauregizar – whether in the summer or this month – the Manchester side could be bringing an ideal long-term heir to Rodri. That’s a certainty.

Why Mikel Jauregizar could be Rodri 2.0

Like Rodri, Jauregizar emerged from a Spanish side’s youth system as a talented young midfielder with plenty to prove.

The 21-year-old made his senior debut for Bilbao last season, having featured 23 times for the youth team. He showed vast potential to succeed in the club’s top flight.

This season, the youngster has missed just three La Liga matches. During his time on the pitch, he averages 2.1 tackles per game, along with losing possession just 7.5 times per game while winning 50% of his ground duels.

The Spaniard is certainly raw, but his potential is vast, and there is no reason why he can’t be a success in the Premier League.

When compared to his positional peers in La Liga, the Bilbao starlet ranks in the top 3% for tackles (3.1) per 90, the top 21% for ball recoveries (5.67) per 90 and in the top 15% for goal-creating actions (0.44) per 90, proving he is effective whether or not his team have the ball.

Moving to City could be the ideal place for Jauregizar to develop, especially considering he can learn from Rodri, which would allow him to become a better player.

Amid the links to the player, writer David Walker praised the youngster, saying: “Athletic Bilbao’s young talent Mikel Jauregizar has also been mentioned as a possibility. City are very active in the transfer market this month – which is great – but the key position, that of DM. and future cover for Rodri, is the one glaring omission thus far.”

Unfortunately, as much as the City faithful would like him to stay, Rodri won’t be around forever. This means signing a player who could develop into his heir will be Guardiola’s next major priority.

If he can strike a deal to sign the current Bilbao star, especially for a measly £21m, then it could be a wise move in the transfer market.

City may not be at the level that has been demonstrated over the previous few years, but with the club’s business in the transfer market recently, they could return to their former glories next season.

Adding Jauregizar to his ranks, Guardiola will be set on returning City to the summit of English football.