The news that Pep Guardiola will manage Manchester City for two more seasons is extremely well-timed for the club and its supporters.
City are struggling by their own lofty standards in 2024/25, largely due to a slew of injuries, and perhaps also partially because of uncertainty over the future of the man who's delivered their greatest-ever spell in history by a distance.
But the news that the Catalan will be at the helm for his 10th and 11th seasons at the Etihad Stadium takes care of the latter and could have a strong knock-on effect for the former.
That's because the January transfer window is just six weeks away, and the knowledge that Guardiola is the man in charge for the foreseeable future instantly increases City's appeal to potential signings.
At the top of that injury list is Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner whose presence has been sorely missed since a September ACL injury made it unlikely he'd play again this season.
On top of that, Rodri had been linked with a return to Spain with Real Madrid once he recovers. If Los Blancos' collective Ballon d'Or headloss hasn't scuppered those ambitions, Guardiola would absolutely want to have a player of similar style and comparable stature in place for his prolonged stay in Manchester.
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Here are some of the names linked with City in recent times that could well be carried over the proverbial finish line by the club, now the Guardiola question has well and truly been answered.
Martin Zubimendi - Real Sociedad
Rodri's replacement during Spain's successful Euro 2024 final against England could literally be his successor at City in one of the most telling absences the league champions have at the moment.
Zubimendi was close to heading to City's title rivals Liverpool in the summer when they moved to trigger his £51 million (approx. $64 million) release clause, only for the midfielder to decide to stay at Real Sociedad for the time being.
Would a move to England appeal more if it's Guardiola who comes knocking?
Ederson - Atalanta
One of the stars of the Serie A club's Europa League triumph is strong, has great conditioning and a world-class read on the game, making him another perfect solution to City's Rodri-less season and beyond.
The 25-year-old has a great upside and is reportedly available for around £35 million (approx. $44 million).
Joshua Kimmich - Bayern Munich
The versatile German already has a huge fan in Guardiola, who recruited him as a 20-year-old from RB Leipzig when he managed the Bavarians.
And Kimmich will currently be out of contract in the summer, meaning that January brings the freedom for City to approach him about the 2025/26 season and beyond — or even tempt Bayern with a cut-price fee for an immediate switch.
Samuele Ricci - Torino
Perhaps the best deal for City in this position is the 23-year-old Italian already on the radar of many a top club.
Ricci has been quoted in the past as studying Rodri's playing style and reportedly is available for just £25 million (approx. $31 million) which in turn would make it easier for the Manchester club to make him a lucrative, long-term offer.
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