Manchester City transfer latest as the Blues step up interest in Rayan Air-Nouri at Wolves and AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnder
Manchester City are set to secure the signings of Wolves left back Rayan Ait-Nouri and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders
Manchester City are expected to complete a £50million move for Rayan Ait-Nouri as their summer transfer business ramps up.
The Blues are determined to strengthen their squad after a disappointing campaign last term which saw them lose the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace, make early exits from the Champions League and Carabao Cup, and require a late uptick in form to secure third place in the Premier League.
City’s mid-season slump prompted them to spend big in the January window but the majority of those four winter arrivals were acquired with the future in mind. Of the quartet, only Omar Marmoush started with any regularity during the second half of the campaign.
This summer, the Blues will seek to add first team ready players with Guardiola keen to freshen up his squad, while also trimming it to what he views as a more manageable size. That will mean several players will depart but is incomings where the focus currently sits.
Ait-Nouri, the Wolves left back, is expected to join while AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is also closing in on a switch to the Etihad with the fee expected to be around £55million.
Lyon winger Rayan Cherki has been heavily linked while City have a longstanding interest in Juventus full back Andrea Cambiaso. Guardiola is expected to focus on midfield and the full back areas, while a goalkeeper could arrive depending on the future of Ederson and his back-up Stefan Ortega.
The initial transfer window opened on Sunday and City are keen to conduct the bulk of their transfer business before the Club World Cup starts later that month.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak confirmed the club’s intention when speaking to club media last week in his annual interview.
“We have clearly identified who exactly are the targets, in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option,” he said
“And we’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. And our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
City’s Club World Cup campaign kicks off on Wednesday, June 18, with the tournament itself beginning on June 14.
But the initial transfer window, implemented specifically to allow clubs to sign players ahead of the Club World Cup, shuts on June 10.
It means City have seven days to secure their transfer targets if they are to meet their self-imposed deadline. A week can be a long time in football.