Man City close in on key Wolves deal ahead of Club World Cup | OneFootball

Man City Close in on Aït-Nouri as Summer Business Accelerates

Left-back solution nears conclusion

Manchester City are closing in on their second signing of the summer as they move to finalise a €40 million deal for Wolves’ Rayan Aït-Nouri. The Algerian international, granted permission to temporarily leave national team duty, is expected to undergo a medical before completing the transfer to the Etihad Stadium. As reported by ESPN.

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The 23-year-old has grown in stature since arriving in English football from Angers, making 157 appearances for Wolves and catching the eye with his composure, athleticism and ball progression. For Pep Guardiola, who is keen to add depth at left-back, Aït-Nouri ticks a number of tactical boxes.

Summer plans take shape early

City’s interest in early business is deliberate. With the FIFA Club World Cup fast approaching and the squad set to head for a training camp in Florida, there is urgency to ensure that new arrivals are fully integrated.

Aït-Nouri will join Tijjani Reijnders in the squad bound for Philadelphia, with further moves expected. Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso remain on City’s radar.

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Rayan Aït-Nouri may not be a marquee name, but he’s exactly what the City team needs. Young, technically gifted and already experienced in the Premier League, he adds natural balance and attacking intent to the left flank.

Let’s be honest, left-back has been a bit of a patchwork position for a while. Yes, Guardiola’s system often plays with inverted full-backs, but having a proper left-sided option who can beat a man and recover defensively gives City much more flexibility.

This is also a deal done with long-term planning in mind. At just 23, Aït-Nouri can develop under Guardiola’s guidance and become a key part of the squad’s next phase. It’s another smart move by a club that continues to build efficiently.

If the Cherki and Cambiaso links materialise too, they’ll be heading into the new season with a squad built for every competition — domestic and global. The Club World Cup is around the corner, and signings like this show City are not just preparing for it, they are planning to win it.