£100m must, Euro wonder kid, next Rodri - Man City’s imminent January transfer decision

Manchester City rarely go into the transfer market in January - but this season might just be different.

You have to go back to Aymeric Laporte in 2018 for the last time the Blues strengthened their XI in the winter window with the consensus that conducting business in the summer and sticking with a squad for a campaign is the better formula. It's yielded four successive Premier League titles and a 2023 Champions League trophy but when the 2025 January window opens, City might be forced into action.

The serious injury sustained by Rodri against Arsenal on Sunday means a gaping hole has emerged in the middle of City's midfield. And while a definitive diagnosis has not been forthcoming, City chief Pep Guardiola acknowledged the 28-year-old would be sidelined for a while with fears his season may be over.

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And while the Blues have a host of in-house options who can fill in, bringing in a new signing would provide added competition and a mid-season boost. City have the finances and the pulling power to attract almost anyone to the Etihad, so who would be pick number one to join? We asked our panel of City writers for their thoughts.

"The chances of City actually signing someone in January are slim - Txiki Begiristain and Pep Guardiola prefer to do their business in the summer and are both happy with the squad depth. They couldn't account for a lengthy injury to Rodri, but actively decided against signing a defensive midfielder so will have accepted the risks that came with such a decision.

"That said, Rodri's injury