Are Manchester City poised to fill a position that has long been forgotten? | OneFootball

Manchester City do appear in need of a left-back this summer. It has long been a position where Pep Guardiola’s squad needs a specialist to fulfil the role. Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, when available, and Nico O’Reilly were utilised by Pep Guardiola at left-back during the 24/25. Each player had their moments, but looking at Pep Guardiola’s squad, the need for Manchester City to sign a specialist left-back is obvious. It would give the City squad a different look. If they sign the right player, it could add a different dynamic to City’s play.

One player who could fill the left-back void in Pep Guardiola’s squad is Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri. Now, multiple reports have emerged today that state that Ait-Nouri is the left-back that City is targeting. It now seems that there is a realistic chance that Manchester City could sign the Algerian international ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.

If Manchester City could sign Ait-Nouri they may find their long-term solution to the left-back position. The Algerian international has all of the technical ability on the ball to slot into a Pep Guardiola squad. He can also play as an overlapping and inverted full-back. He ticks many of the boxes required to play for Manchester City. By signing him, City would have a proper left-back and it would fill a position that City have long needed a specialist to play the left-back role in Pep Guardiola’s system.

Manchester City are making their move to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves.

David Ornstein has reported for the Athletic that Manchester City are bidding to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer. Furthermore, Ornstein reports that all involved in the deal expect Ait-Nouri to arrive at the Etihad this summer.

Jack Gaughan has reported for the Daily Mail that Manchester City expect to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup. Gaughan further reports that City scouts have monitored Ait-Nouri for the past 12 months.

Lastly, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Rayan Ait-Nouri has agreed to move to Manchester City. Romano adds that negotiations between City and Wolves are expected to advance soon.

It seems that City have locked in on their third target for the summer transfer window.

Manchester City’s moves for Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders are well-documented. It would seem to be a matter of time before those deals are wrapped up. Of course, anything can happen in the transfer market until a deal is officially confirmed. But it does seem to be a matter of time before both of those deals are complete. Now it seems that that Rayan Ait-Nouri is the third player that City are determined to land ahead of the Club World Cup.

It would be a tremendous boost if City could complete a deal for Rayan Ait-Nouri ahead of the Club World Cup. He’d get an opportunity to play at left-back in a high-stakes tournament for Manchester City. Ait-Nouri, like any new signing City makes, will need time to adjust to life under Pep Guardiola. Playing as a full-back is a complicated role in a Pep Guardiola team. So the quicker Ait-Nouri can be signed by City the quicker he can adapt to Manchester City’s system. That would be the ideal scenario for Manchester City in regards to their move for Ait-Nouri.

Manchester City’s move for Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri appears to be advancing quickly. Judging by today’s reports it may only be a matter of time before Manchester City finally fill a position they’ve long needed a specialist in.