Manchester City Inquire About Lazio Midfielder as They Search for Rodri Replacement | OneFootball

Manchester City have reportedly probed the availability of Lazio midfielder Nicolo Rovella, identifying him as a potential replacement for Rodri.

The Background

After losing the 2024 Ballon d’Or to a season-ending injury, the reigning Premier League champions endured their worst run since Pep Guardiola’s arrival at the club, winning one fixture in 11 across all competitions. But despite steadying the ship with back-to-back wins in their last two contests, the Cityzens know they must bolster their midfield with a new holding midfielder.

Manchester City Following Nicolo Rovella

According to Il Messaggero (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), the English giants inquired about Rovella, considering him a suitable profile for the role after showcasing his prowess in the deep-lying playmaker role this season. City are reportedly willing to splash €40 million to lure the Italy international towards English shores, which would generate a capital gain of €23 million for Lazio.

Lazio Forever?

But as the source notes, Rovella has reiterated his desire to stay at the Italian capital side ‘forever’, so he could be reluctant to leave Formello at this stage, thus resisting the temptation to join one of the most star-studded squads on the globe.

However, if the player were to open up to the move, it would be interesting to see how Lazio president Claudio Lotito would act, but we can expect him to slap a hefty price tag on the midfielder’s back as is often the case when a European giant launches an onslaught for a top Lazio star.