Manchester City are reportedly ready to make an approach to sign Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton in the January transfer window as Pep Guardiola seeks to solve the champions' full-blown crisis.
The Premier League holders are enduring the worst run of form for the English champions in over 50 years, having suffered a fifth defeat in a row in all competitions in Saturday's 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs' shock embarrassment marked the first time that City had lost a home game by at least four goals under Guardiola, who is no longer just missing ACL victim Rodri but also Mateo Kovacic.
The ex-Chelsea man is now out of action for around a month due to an unspecified problem, leaving a young Rico Lewis, a struggling Ilkay Gundogan and Matheus Nunes - who has largely played on the left of late - as City's midfield options.
Ever since Rodri suffered his season-ending injury in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September, City have been tipped to sign a host of replacements for the Ballon d'Or winner, who has also refused to rule out a future move to Real Madrid.
Wharton 'hugely impressing' Man City scouts
According to TEAMtalk, the Citizens intend to accelerate their interest in the England international over the winter and are set to make an official approach for him when the window reopens in January.
Of all the defensive midfielders that the City scouts are 'working overtime' to identify, Wharton has supposedly emerged as a standout candidate, having seamlessly adapted to life in the Premier League.
The former Blackburn Rovers protege joined Oliver Glasner's side in January of this year for an initial £18m, which could rise to £22m, and he has provided four assists in his first 26 matches for the club.
Wharton is currently on the sidelines after undergoing a groin operation, but he should return to playing at some point in December, after which City could make a concerted effort to bring him to the Etihad.
Wharton is contracted to Palace until the summer of 2029, though, and the Eagles have no intention of parting ways with the 2004-born gem midway through the season, but a sizeable bid could turn their head.
Which other midfielders could Man City target?
It is unclear whether Wharton's Palace contract includes a release clause, but one thing is for certain; Man City will have to pay a premium figure to prise him away from Selhurst Park in January.
The England international is just one of a handful of fulcrums being monitored by the recruitment team, though, as Atalanta BC's Ederson has also been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad.
However, Man City will reportedly have to go head-to-head with Manchester United to land the Brazilian, who still has three years left to run on his contract with the Europa League champions.
Another Serie A lynchpin - Torino's Samuele Ricci - is said to have attracted glances from Manchester as well, as has AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders, but the Dutchman could soon be the subject of an 'astronomical' offer from Arsenal.
