Manchester City are allegedly in talks to sign Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci as Pep Guardiola looks to replace the injured Rodri, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. Despite the excitement surrounding Ricci, sources say he is not on City’s official shortlist, which includes four other midfielders.
One of the top targets is Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella, but his price is high, with Inter demanding at least £70 million. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is also being watched attentively, having impressed since signing from Blackburn and earning an England call-up. Wharton’s potential makes him a viable long-term replacement for Rodri.
City are also monitoring Atalanta’s Ederson and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, who has sparked interest from both Liverpool and Arsenal ahead of the January transfer window. Meanwhile, Guardiola is looking to improve his right-back options, with Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen being a key target. However, Manchester United and Liverpool are also interested in signing the Dutch defender.
