Manchester City are now in early negotiations for a Premier League player who was described as “the real deal,” the report said.
Man City wants to get back on track
While they may not be back to their best, Man City will be pleased to have returned to winning ways with their 2-0 win against Leicester City last time out. Pep GuardiolaThe team are not out of the woods yet, but it will be a very welcome three points as they have struggled to find form since Rodri has been sidelined with an ACL injury.
The huge drop in performance without the Ballon d’Or winner will continue to be a major concern for Guardiola, meaning the manager may want to strengthen his midfield in January to avoid a similar situation in the future. Citizens are thinking about Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddiwho is tipped to become a future star after his impressive first half of the season, playing for the French club aged just 17.
However, Bouaddi will not be available until the end of the season, and Guardiola could be ready to overhaul the midfield immediately, having now identified the young Premier League midfielder as a potential target. According to reports from Spain, City are now considering Brighon & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Balebaand the negotiations are already at an early stage.
Baleba’s Premier League experience reportedly makes him an ideal target for the Blues, and he is now in their sights ahead of the January transfer window and the summer. Rodri’s injury has left a void in City’s midfield, meaning a new player may be needed, and the Brighton star fits the bill.
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Baleba could be Rodri’s ideal successor
Rodri is well known for his passing ability and the Brighton star could be a replacement for a similar one in that regard, with an average pass rate of 89.4% on 90 over the past year, putting him in in the 87th percentile compared to their positional peers.
Praised as the “real deal” by members of the media, the 20-year-old also ranks in the 94th percentile for interceptions and 95th percentile for blocks, showing off his solid defensive attributes.
City’s results over the past few months have proven that a significant overhaul is needed at the Etihad Stadium, perhaps starting in midfield, with İlkay Gündoğan arguably past his best.
Despite still being so young, Baleba has already proven himself in the Premier League, meaning he should have little trouble progressing should he complete a move to Man City.
As such, it’s promising news that City have swooped on the starlet ahead of the January transfer window, and he could play a significant role in getting their season back on track.
