How Man City could line up with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki at Club World Cup as triple transfer edges closes

Manchester City have moved swiftly on from a disappointing 2024-25 campaign and have wasted little time pursuing some of their top targets in the summer transfer window.

Citizens chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak had made it clear that several targets have been identified by the club and their objective is to revamp Pep Guardiola’s squad before their FIFA Club World Cup campaign begins on June 18.

With Kevin De Bruyne leaving upon the expiration of his contract and Mateo Kovacic facing up to three months out following Achilles surgery, midfield reinforcements have become a priority for Man City and Tijjani Reijnders looks set to be one of their first new additions.

It is understood that Man City have reached an agreement with AC Milan to sign the Serie A Midfielder of the Season for an initial €55m (£48m), which could rise to €70m (£58.9m) with add-ons.

Man City also have a club-to-club agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri for a total fee close to €40m (£33.7m).

Both Ait-Nouri, 24, and Reijnders, 26, are scheduled to undergo their medicals over the weekend ahead of finalising their moves to the Etihad Stadium.

Man City could complete as many as three new signings before jetting off to the United States for the Club World Cup, as they are also in negotiations with Lyon over a deal to sign promising attacker Rayan Cherki.

The 21-year-old has allegedly already agreed personal terms and the deal is expected to reach an advanced stage as soon as a fee is agreed for the €30m-rated Frenchman, who made an eye-catching impression on his international debut in the UEFA Nations League.

With excitement building on the blue side of Manchester, Sports Mole takes a look at how Man City could line up with Ait-Nouri, Reijnders and Cherki in Guardiola’s side.

Man City fans are delighted to see that the club - under the guidance of new sporting director Hugo Viana - are finally targeting a new left-back, a natural for that position after years of Guardiola calling on makeshift options.

Josko Gvardiol has excelled in an advanced left-back role over the last couple of seasons, but he is expected to shift into central defence in the long-term, allowing Ait-Nouri to make the left-back role his own at the Etihad.

Described as a “phenomenally gifted” and “technically adept” left-back, Ait-Nouri is capable of operating in an inverted role if required under Guardiola, or as a high-and-wide option, similar to his wing-back role at Wolves where he thrived last season, recording four goals and seven assists in 37 Premier League games.

Few would be surprised to see Ait-Nouri given the license by Guardiola to regularly push forward in similar fashion to Gvardiol in 2024-25, given how much of an impact the Algerian can have in the final third.

Gvardiol and Dias could establish themselves as the first-choice centre-back pairing at Man City, protecting either Ederson or Stefan Ortega between the sticks, while Matheus Nunes could remain in a makeshift right-back role, with the Citizens still searching for a permanent solution to what has been a problem position since the departure of Kyle Walker.

Man City will welcome back Ballon d’Or winner Rodri in his deep-lying midfield role and the Spaniard could be supported by new recruit Reijnders, who has described himself as a “modern midfielder, a box-to-box player” who is “always fit” and can contribute at both ends of the pitch.

Reijnders has also been labelled as a "magically gifted footballer" who could "easily be shaped" into an "Ilkay Gundogan-esque player" under Guardiola - Gundogan turns 35 years of age in October and has been linked with a move to Turkey.

The likes of Gundogan, Kovacic - when fit - Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva will all battle for starts with, or alongside, Rodri and Reijnders, while Phil Foden is determined to rediscover his best form after a "frustrating season" battling with physical and mental fatigue. He could be the man to fill the creative void left by De Bruyne, but so could Rayan Cherki.

Cherki, who has been labelled an "absolute superstar" and a "special footballer", is believed to have been identified by Man City as their top target for the No.10 position after moving on from Florian Wirtz.

The Frenchman could indeed rival the likes of Foden, Oscar Bobb - and possibly Claudio Echeverri - for that central attacking role, but Guardiola may also consider using him on the right and left flanks. Last season, the youngster predominantly operated as a right-sided attacker for Lyon, where he recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 games across all competitions.

While both Jack Grealish and James McAtee appear to be heading for the exit door, Guardiola still has Savinho, Jeremy Doku and Omar Marmoush as other wide options at his disposal. Marmoush could play regularly either in a central role or on the left side of attack, cutting inside to link up with leading marksman Erling Haaland up front.

Written by
Oliver Thomas