Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole that he would be "absolutely buzzing" if Pep Guardiola's side sign Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer.
At a time when the Citizens are glad to see the back of a turbulent 2024-25 campaign and will now begin to rest up ahead of returning to action in just over three weeks' time at the FIFA Club World Cup, new sporting director Hugo Viana is working hard behind the scenes ahead of a much-anticipated squad rebuild.
Man City are expected to prioritise the addition of a couple of new midfielders, with Kevin De Bruyne leaving upon the expiration of his contract, but they have also been tipped to strengthen their options in the full-back department.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Wolves star Ait-Nouri features high on Man City's list of targets and they have asked for the conditions of a deal to sign the 23-year-old attack-minded left-back, with 'contacts expected to continue'.
Ait-Nouri, who impressed in 2024-25 with four goals and seven assists in 37 Premier League games, recently changed agents and is facing an uncertain future at Molineux, as he will soon be entering the final year of his contract.
The likes of Manchester United and Liverpool have been credited with an interest in the Algeria international, but it appears that Man City have made the first move to try and win the race for his signature.
Ait-Nouri is "going to get better and better"
Sharing his thoughts on Man City's interest in Ait-Nouri, McInerney told Sports Mole: "I would love him at Manchester City. He's probably the left-back I would choose in the Premier League to come to Man City. He's absolutely cracking.
"Now [Milos] Kerkez of course is a good link. Like Antonee Robinson, Kerkez is an aggressive, attacking full-back. Kerkez in particular is very good in possession as well because he plays that way under [Andoni] Iraola at Bournemouth, but Ait-Nouri, to me, is much more technically adept.
"I think he's a lot more skilful, good size, good pace, only 23 years old, loads of experience as well, Premier League proven, a great crosser, he can drive inside and play a through-ball, he's been really good against City as well. He's locked down [Jeremy] Doku at one point.
"I think he's a phenomenally gifted left-back. He's going to get better and better. I would take him in a heartbeat at Manchester City.
"A natural full-back who can drift inside, who can go out wide, who has the pace to get forward, who's pretty good defensively. Is he amazing defensively? Who is these days? But he's good enough. He's more than good enough."
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Man City signing Ait-Nouri "solves an awful lot of problems"
McInerney added: "I've wanted [Ait-Nouri] for a long time. He was actually linked to City when he was at Angers, before he moved to Wolves...I would be absolutely buzzing, genuinely buzzing to have Ait-Nouri at Manchester City. He solves an awful lot of problems.
"I think he would let [Josko] Gvardiol [return to centre-back] again, which to me is the long-term future [for him]. [Manuel] Akanji keeps playing there right now, but Gvardiol and [Ruben] Dias looks way better and more balanced than Dias and Akanji does.
"I think City are going to be playing [Omar] Marmoush a lot closer to [Erling] Harland. I think he will tuck in an awful lot next season, and I wouldn't be surprised if we get full-backs who can get forward and put crosses in, like [Matheus] Nunes did for [Ilkay] Gundogan's goal against Fulham, because we've not seen that for a long time at City. I think the width will come from the full-backs (next season)."
McInerney has explained how Man City could line up next season with Ait-Nouri as an advanced full-back under Guardiola, along with some other potential signings, and has also given his verdict on how much the Wolves star could cost.
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
Oliver Thomas
