Man City's Declan Rice alternatives: Seven midfielders Pep Guardiola could target after missing out on West Ham star

The Spanish midfielder only broke into the Celta Vigo team last August, but quickly became one of the team's most influential players, scoring an astonishing 11 goals from midfield while adding four assists, contributing to more than a third of the struggling side's goals.

He has been at the centre of transfer speculation this summer and he spent the entirety of a recent press conference with Spain's Under-21 side fielding questions about interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Guardiola has always been alert to talented Spanish youngsters, and Veiga ticks all the boxes as he carries a huge goal threat. He is easily within City's reach as he has a £35m buy-out clause, and the club have long favoured signing players with release clauses as it prevents them getting into a bidding war.

The Portugal international had a hugely impressive debut season in the Premier League with Fulham and embraced the physical nature of English football. He made the most tackles in the league and was one of Marco Silva's most influential players as the Cottagers finished 10th in their first campaign back in the top flight.

Palhinha also inspired Sporting CP to the Portuguese title in 2021, and has the experience and winning mentality to take the step up to City. He might not be a nailed-on starter, but he would give Guardiola the opportunity to give some rest to Rodri, who played almost every game in the team's run to the treble.

Merino was heavily linked with a move to City last summer, and his stock has only risen after steering Real Sociedad to Champions League qualification for the first time in a decade.

The Spain international has grown into a complete player since his brief spell in the Premier League with Newcastle and has become far more productive, laying on nine assists last season, his best-ever return. He also played a crucial role in Spain winning the UEFA Nations League

The 27-year-old's release clause has just dropped to £51m and he turned down a move to Aston Villa in January. But the lure of the newly crowned Champions League winners could be too big for him to resist.

Goretzka has been one of Bayern's most consistent players over the last five years and his ability to play across the midfield would surely appeal to Guardiola. The 28-year-old is most effective as a box-to-box midfielder due to his energetic pressing and his ability to link attack and defence.

He is not a particularly prolific scorer but he does offer a goal threat with late runs into the box. Goretzka has seen his playing time decrease since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel, and while he has said he is determined to stay and fight for his place in the Bayern team, he would surely relish the chance to work with Guardiola.

City have done a lot of shopping at Borussia Dortmund lately, and Brandt would be a logical next target for them after spearheading the Black and Yellows title bid, which fell agonisingly short on the final day of the season.

The attacking midfielder is more in the mould of Kevin De Bruyne than Rice, but City could do with easing the burden on the Belgian after he played the latter stage of the season carrying a hamstring injury, leading him to break down in the Champions League final.

Brandt is just the type of player City could do with after parting ways with Gundogan. The Germany international can play behind the striker as a No.10 or on either side of the midfield three, and is hugely productive, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists last season.

Another key player in Real Sociedad's superb campaign, Zubimendi has been compared to Sergio Busquets for his vision and his ability to read the game. Indeed, he has been linked with a move to Barcelona to replace the departing Busquets, but his £51m release clause is a big obstacle for the cash-strapped Catalans to overcome.

The fee, though, would be far more reasonable for City, and the 24-year-old would be an upgrade on Phillips, who Guardiola has struggled to warm to.

The Ecuador international was one of the outstanding players in the Premier League last season and is an obvious alternative to Rice due to his physical and technical qualities. City are yet to declare their interest in Caicedo, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United apparently leading the race to sign the 21-year-old from Brighton.

Caicedo is set to cost around £70m, and the hefty transfer fee looks like being the main reason City have so far stayed out of the running for him after being put off by Rice's price tag. But given Caicedo's talent, age and the fact City could also lose Bernardo Silva this summer, he is surely worthy of consideration.