Manchester City are reportedly preparing a major £120million double raid on Crystal Palace as they begin the process of reshaping their midfield in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne’s looming exit and concerns over Rodri’s long-term fitness.
After four consecutive Premier League titles, Pep Guardiola’s side have found themselves slipping behind this season. With just a few games left, they sit third in the table and can finish no higher than second. A key factor in their dip has been the extended absence of midfield lynchpin Rodri and the injury-hit form of De Bruyne, who is expected to leave the club in the near future despite a recent return to fitness.
With both midfield pillars likely unavailable going forward, City are determined to reinforce. According to Fichajes, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has emerged as the prime candidate to fill Rodri’s role. The 20-year-old has impressed with his composure and maturity in midfield, and City are reportedly ready to pay around £52 million to secure his services.
In a further report, Fichajes also names Wharton’s Palace teammate Eberechi Eze as City’s preferred replacement for De Bruyne. The dynamic attacking midfielder has had a standout season and is believed to be valued at £68 million by Palace. City are not deterred by that figure and are said to be ready to proceed with the deal if Eze gives the green light.
Should both deals go through, City would invest a combined £120 million to refresh their midfield with two of the Premier League’s brightest English talents. The potential arrival of Eze and Wharton would not only inject youth and flair into Guardiola’s squad but also ensure long-term continuity in key areas.
While the Palace duo appear to be top of City’s wishlist, they are not the only names being considered. Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen has also been linked, but the German star reportedly prefers a move to Bayern Munich, cooling City’s interest. Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) and James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur) have also emerged as possible De Bruyne replacements.
With De Bruyne’s future increasingly uncertain and Rodri’s fitness a lingering concern, Manchester City’s upcoming transfer window could be one of their most decisive yet. Adding Wharton and Eze would mark a bold shift towards a younger midfield core and underline City’s intent to remain at the pinnacle of both English and European football.
