via Reuters
Manchester City are well and truly in a new era as Rodri heads to Barcelona with a deal agreed between the two clubs.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Rodri is joining the Catalans after City accepted a new offer from the La Liga giants. It means the Spaniard leaves the Etihad after a trophy-laden seven years.
Rodri has been one of the Citizens' most important players, anchoring their midfield during the club's most successful period. Not only has the Manchester outfit bid farewell to Pep Guardiola, but now their Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder is on his way out.
City have been linked with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez amid Barca's pursuit of Rodri. But the Argentine isn't the direct replacement the club should turn to.
Adam Wharton is Man City's ideal Rodri heir
via Reuters
City appear likely to come back in for Fernandez as they look to reunite the Chelsea star with new manager Enzo Maresca. They are also pursuing LOSC Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi and should those two arrive at the Etihad Stadium, they will have a completely new-look midfield
That said, the ideal midfielder to replace Rodri is Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, who is bizarrely not talked up for a big-money switch. He has developed into one of the most highly-rated holding midfielders in Europe.
Just ask Real Madrid who are reportedly eyeing Wharton as an alternative to Rodri after missing out on the Spaniard to Barca. Spanish journalist Miguel Serrano reports that the Englishman is their 'favourite solution'.
Wharton has excelled during his time at Palace, performing a deep-lying playmaker role to perfection. While he isn't as powerful or prolific as Rodri, he's only 22 and has the qualities to help City control games alongside Elliott Anderson.
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Maresca started his reign with a woeful 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield. There were clear issues in the middle of the park without Rodri's presence, and a lack of control could be a major problem moving forward.
Anderson endured a difficult outing at the Millennium Stadium and could do with a midfield partner to anchor Maresca's midfield. While Fernandez is undoubtedly an elite box-to-box midfielder, his arrival doesn't address the void left by Rodri's departure.
Guardiola may have turned to Wharton
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Maresca clearly wants City to sign Fernandez but if he were to ask Guardiola for his verdict on replacing Rodri, he may well be told Wharton is the man for the job. The former City boss made it no secret of his admiration for the Palace star, including last year when he waxed lyrical:
Wharton has been linked with Madrid for some time and much of that comes down to comparisons with Spanish legend Sergio Busquets. Football analysts often describe him as 'the English Busquets' and there are clear similarities in their playing styles.
Rodri idolised Busquets and cited him as an inspiration and reference for his role as a defensive midfielder. City's obvious heir to the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner is staring them right in the face.
With there being talk of Wharton moving to either Liverpool or Madrid, it is odd that the Etihad hasn't been mentioned as a possible destination. A deal for Fernandez looks likely to cost around £120million and that's a hefty fee to pay after forking out £116million on Anderson.