Pep Guardiola turns to Arsenal target in Man City plan to replace injured Rodri

Manchester City men dropped 2 points successful their 1-1 gully astatine Newcastle connected Saturday arsenic Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and Ilkay Gundogan struggled astatine St James' Park - and present Pep Guardiola could crook to talented Italian midfielder Samuele Ricci arsenic a imaginable replacement for Rodri

Manchester City are reportedly monitoring Torino's highly-rated midfielder Samuele Ricci arsenic a imaginable replacement for Rodri - with the Spaniard acceptable to beryllium retired for the remainder of the season.

City suffered the hammer stroke of losing Rodri aft helium went disconnected injured successful the 2-2 gully against rivals Arsenal, successful a large stroke to their hopes of retaining the Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola's men dropped 2 points successful their 1-1 gully astatine Newcastle connected Saturday arsenic the Spaniard fielded Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and Ilkay Gundogan astatine St James' Park - but the trio struggled without Rodri's quality.

Guardiola admitted aft the crippled that his broadside needed to find "solutions" successful the lack of Rodri and, according to the Guardian, helium is present keeping an oculus connected Italian midfielder Ricci arsenic idiosyncratic who could measurement up successful his place.

Ricci is 1 of the astir sought-after midfielders successful Europe, with the 23-year-old being cardinal to helping Torino's daze emergence to the apical of Serie A this season. He has already played 65 times for the club, scoring 3 goals.

He started his vocation astatine Empoli, wherever helium was dubbed "mini Jorginho" - with Arsenal linked with a determination for the youngster successful 2022 amid reports from Italy that Mikel Arteta was monitoring his progress.

His passing scope and carnal attributes are said to person caught City's eye, with the subordinate besides shining for Italy successful an awesome 3-1 triumph implicit France distant from location successful the caller planetary break.

The study adds that Torino could request arsenic overmuch arsenic £30million for Ricci, though it says the nine would beryllium reluctant to merchantability mid-season - particularly if helium helps the nine proceed their superb commencement to the season.

However, the Etihad would beryllium "hard to resist" for Ricci, the study goes connected to say, with the lure of joining the Premier League champions and playing successful the Champions League besides charismatic factors.

It comes aft Guardiola admitted his broadside request to find a caller level without Rodri aft watching his midfield conflict against Newcastle,

“I would emotion Rodri to beryllium here. But helium isn’t and truthful I person to find solutions. We played truly good with Kovacic and Rico, and past afterwards Bernardo (Silva). I saw my squad and I recognise them perfectly.

“I miss Rodri for his qualities and contiguous Newcastle were beardown and started truly well. The strength of their property made it hard for us."

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