How Man City could line up with Nico Gonzalez amid midfield struggles and Rodri surprise

The arrival of Nico Gonzalez will bolster Manchester City's midfield options and complete the club's near £200million January transfer business.

The Spaniard is set to complete a £50million move from Porto with City having stumped up the release clause to prise the 23-year-old from Portugal. His arrival follows the capture of Omar Marmoush from Frankfurt and young defensive duo Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis as City begin to overhaul their squad following a testing few months.

City have struggled in midfield for much of the campaign with talisman Rodri sidelined since September with a serious knee injury. The move for Gonzalez plugs a gap that has become exposed over recent months.

Mateo Kovacic has been pressed into a pivotal role when he is effectively a squad player and Gonzalez will offer more security in the middle. The pair could play together, with Bernardo Silva moved further forward, or Kovacic could be sacrificed in games where City will expect to dominate the ball.

Gonzalez is not a Rodri clone and long-term there is the prospect of the duo being paired together for City, providing a solid base and the ability to break from midfield to offer support to the attacking quartet.

Gonzalez is a box to box midfielder who is also capable of operating deep or pushing into a more advanced role. He's caught the eye at Porto having only moved to the Dragao 18 months ago from Barcelona. Schooled at the Camp Nou, he is a possession-based footballer that will suit Guardiola's City set-up.

Gonzalez will add legs in the middle of the park and his ball retention fits the profile of what Guardiola wants from his midfielders. City have struggled in transition time and again this season and were ruthlessly exposed by Arsenal