Rodri is one player that the club paid a big transfer fee for. Who unquestionably has evolved into a key member of the squad. But Pep Guardiola seems to bring in a partner for him in Declan Rice.
The midfielder joined City in the 2019 summer transfer window from Atletico Madrid for a then-club record £62.8 million cost. Since then, he has made 186 appearances for City in all competitions.
The Spaniard has played more league minutes this season than any other outfield player at the club. This shows how crucial he is to Pep Guardiola’s team.
Looking ahead to the upcoming summer transfer window, should Guardiola feel the need to strengthen. He will add depth to his midfield, Declan Rice, who the Champions are rumoured to have’renewed their interest’ in. He is one player we believe would be the ideal companion for Rodri.
At the age of 24, Rice has made 190 Premier League games. He demonstrated both his experience and the amount of time. He still has to develop as a player and establish himself as a key player for City.
Read More: Etihad Star Could Travel Freely In The Middle Of Arsenal Links
Is Declan Rice a perfect replacement?
The two have demonstrated how similar they are and how effectively they might work together, making them Rodri’s perfect midfield partner.
In the Premier League, for instance, both midfielders hold the top two rankings for the most passes made into the final third of the field (77 vs. 86), in addition to having the highest combined totals of tackles and interceptions at their respective clubs.
This potential partnership could, however, allow the City player to focus on the attacking side of his game because the West Ham star outperforms Rodri on the defensive side of the game by having a higher average of tackles (2.3 vs. 2.2) and interceptions per game (1.6 vs. 1.2). This is especially true because Rice will be covering him.
The England international, who journalist Paul Hayward called “dynamic” in his defensive-midfield position, could significantly improve both City’s defence and their offensive play given what he can do on and off the ball, which should make him a top summer target in our opinion.
Follow us on Twitter to get regular football updates.
