The need for Manchester City to sign a midfielder or two in January is obvious. City’s midfield has begun to look tired, weary and slow across their most recent games. They appear to need [energy](https://esteemedkompany.com/2024/11/16/manchester-city-need-legs-in-midfield-and-a-brazilian-midfielder-looks-to-be-the-perfect-man-for-the-job/) and fresh legs in midfield to bolster Pep Guardiola’s squad. The loss of Rodri to a season-ending knee injury has further highlighted this issue.
One player who could help solve this issue for Manchester City is Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. He appears to be attainable, but a new report indicates that a summer move for Zubimendi is more likely than in January. But do Manchester City need to make a big push to sign Zubimendi in January? There is a case for that to occur based on Manchester City’s needs.
The Athletic recently published the [Transfer Radar 2025](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5936155/2024/12/03/transfer-radar-window-signings-guide/?source=twitteruk&utm_campaign=twitterfc&utm_medium=social) piece. The article looked at the 25 players most likely to be the subject of transfer speculation this year. Martin Zubimendi came in at number 4 on the Athletic’s list. There was a host of interesting snippets of information posted in Ornstein’s analysis. First of all, Ornstein reports that Zubimendi is coming to terms with a potential exit from Real Sociedad. He goes on to report that Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all have an interest in signing the Spanish international. But what stands out is that David Ornstein reports that a move for Zubimendi is more likely to occur in the summer rather than in the January transfer window.
#### If Manchester City decide Martin Zubimendi is the player they want to strengthen their midfield they must pull out all of the stops to sign him in January.
Manchester City’s need for a midfielder or two to arrive at the club in January is well-documented. They must at least sign one to strengthen their engine room. That fact is now inescapable. As much as Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and others have been warriors for Pep Guardiola they are in desperate need of support in midfield. Without Rodri and Mateo Kovacic more recently, they are being forced to play more often than they should. In the case of De Bruyne injury has kept him off the pitch consistently since September.
Manchester City need a player who can step into their midfield almost straight away. Martin Zubimendi ticks that box based on his play for both club and country. But David Ornstein’s report suggests that he is more likely to move next summer than in January. That appears to be a major stumbling block for Manchester City.
But despite this fact, if City decide he is their man for now they must make a big push to sign him in January. As Ornstein reports there is a release clause in Zubimendi’s current deal. That eliminates the need for protracted transfer negotiations with Real Sociedad. If Manchester City do intend to move for Zubimendi in January they must pull out all the stops to convince him to move to the Etihad in a month’s time. Manchester City’s midfield situation is that desperate and that may be what is required to land Zubimendi.
The situation surrounding the future of Martin Zubimendi is one to watch going forward. At some point it appears that he will leave Real Sociedad. For me, Manchester City must make a big push to sign him in January. No one player will instantly fix City’s midfield woes but the Spanish international could immediately play a role for Pep Guardiola’s side. That fact should see City push hard to land Zubimendi in January.