Man City transfer news: Two midfielders 'identified' to strengthen squad in January following Rodri, Kovacic injuries

Following a fifth straight defeat in all competitions on Saturday, going down to a shock 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, Pep Guardiola appears committed to strengthening in the middle of the pitch as soon as possible.

The effect that Rodri's possible season-ending knee injury is having on the team is well-documented, and despite their expensively-assembled squad, City are slightly light on options in midfield.

With Mateo Kovacic also out for the next few weeks, Ilkay Gundogan was partnered by young Rico Lewis in the engine room at the weekend, as City were mauled on home soil.

Therefore, the Daily Mail claim that City are targeting moves for both Zubimendi and Ederson when the transfer window opens in January.

Competition for Zubimendi is high

It appeared as though Zubimendi was all set for a move to Liverpool over the summer, but that transfer fell through, with the midfielder showing his loyalty to his boyhood club Real Sociedad.

However, Fichajes claim that the 25-year-old regrets not making the move, with the club lagging seven points behind the top four in La Liga, and he will seek a departure from Anoeta in the winter window.

The report states that Liverpool will re-enter the race, along with Arsenal, who want to reunite Zubimendi with his Real Sociedad teammate Mikel Merino from last season.

With a £50m release clause in his contract, La Real are said to feel powerless in their attempts at convincing the player to stay again, especially with Zubimendi now a regular in the Spain team.

City looking to add another Ederson to their ranks?

Also on the City shortlist is Atalanta BC midfielder Ederson, namesake and national compatriot of the current goalkeeper at the Etihad.

The Atalanta man is also 25, and is one of the most important cogs in Gian Piero Gasperini's impressive La Dea side.

Ederson was instrumental in their Europa League miracle last season, thrashing Liverpool at Anfield before ending Bayer Leverkusen's season-long unbeaten run in the final to take the crown in Dublin.

That campaign saw Ederson rewarded with a place in Brazil's Copa America squad, but even though there has been no drop off in form in Bergamo, he has not been recalled since.

This season La Dea are going strong once again, sitting second in Serie A just one point behind leaders Napoli and performing stoutly in the Champions League, placing in ninth at present.

Ederson playing in a slightly different role to Zubimendi, more advanced in midfield, suggests City could try to sign both in January, but neither will come cheap, especially during a window that is notoriously difficult to deal in.