Who is the most important player in Manchester City's midfield? Perhaps the answer given by every fan will not be too different, basically a choice between De Bruyne and Rodri, and as these two seasons play well, more and more fans will choose Rodri. The Portuguese midfielder in Manchester City's midfield is not only the team's defensive barrier, the hub of attack and defense, but also plays the role of a attacker, De Bruyne's role can be shared, but Rodri's current importance at Manchester City is irreplaceable.
Since joining the Premier League, Rodri's value has been rising, and now he is worth more than 100 million euros, making him one of the most valuable players in midfield, which is also worthy of his current performance. As the main defender of last season's treble, Rodri still contributed the most consistent performance this season, with 8 goals and 9 assists in the offensive league and the Champions League highlighting his comprehensiveness in passing and shooting, and his average of 2 tackles per game on the defensive end can also show his barrier role in the midfield, and Rodri, who is versatile in attack and defense, is also the player that Guardiola values the most.
Although Rodri's current contract with Manchester City is still three years away, Manchester City have begun plans to renew Rodri's contract. According to the English media, Manchester City sent Rodri a new contract, extending the current contract for 2 years, and the salary has also been significantly increased, his weekly salary will reach 300,000 pounds, which is also the fourth highest salary in the Manchester City team, second only to Haaland, De Bruyne and Grealish, compared with the current weekly salary of about 200,000 pounds, 1.5 times.
Manchester City's focus on Rodri is not only to have a salary increase, but also to find a suitable partner for Rodri. There are a number of players in the current Manchester City squad who can play in the central midfield position, including John Stones, who partnered Rodri the most last season, but there is still room for improvement in City's midfield combination. According to German media sources, Manchester City's most important goal is to sign Kimmich from Bayern, and the Bayern captain also has the idea of leaving, and the biggest question at present is whether Manchester City can meet the transfer fee requested by Bayern.
Kimmich's current contract with Bayern also expires next year, and this summer is a critical period for contract renewal, and if the two sides cannot reach an agreement, Bayern will take the initiative to put Kimmich in the transfer market. However, judging from the current news, Guardiola does have the idea of signing Kimmich, but is only willing to pay a transfer fee of less than 30 million euros, which is not the best choice for Bayern. And if Manchester City can sign Kimmich, whether it is a midfielder or a right-back, both positions have been greatly strengthened.