Manchester City have been busier than most clubs during the summer transfer window.
Tijjani Reijnders completed a move to Man City last week, with the Dutch star being one of four new faces to arrive at the Etihad Stadium before the Manchester club travelled to the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Man City are also close to adding several youngsters to their youth set-up as well, while Pepijn Lijnders and James French joined Guardiola’s coaching staff, which shows just how much change has occurred at all levels at the Premier League giants in recent weeks.
Despite all this, not everything has gone to plan for the Manchester club this summer, with it now being reported that a third player rejected a move to City in favour of their Premier League rivals.
Milos Kerkez in action during AFC Bournemouth v Manchester United.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Milos Kerkez rejected Manchester City to join Liverpool
Man City were very interested in Milos Kerkez before Rayan Ait-Nouri was added to Guardiola’s squad recently, as the Bournemouth star was arguably the best left-back in the Premier League last season.
However, a big problem for the Manchester club was that Liverpool were also in the race, and it is being reported on Friday that the Hungarian star is now close to completing his move to Anfield after the Reds agreed a £40m deal with Bournemouth for the defender.
More Man City News
According to The i Paper, Kerkez will sign a five-year contract at Liverpool, while also stating that it was the 21-year-old who rejected Man City this summer, rather than the other way around.
This should start to become a worry for the Manchester club, as Wirtz turned down Man City for Liverpool, while Guardiola was also keen on Jeremie Frimpong before the Reds signed the Dutch full-back.
It has become clear that Liverpool have become the biggest attraction for players in England, which will make life harder for Guardiola as the legendary coach tries to win the Premier League title back from the Merseyside club next season.
How Rayan Ait-Nouri compares to Milos Kerkez
Both Ait-Nouri and Kerkez had brilliant seasons in the Premier League last season, and it is not hard to see why Man City had an interest in both players.
The two players have slight differences, with the Algerian suiting City more than the Hungarian international, as the former Wolves star is better going forward than the Cherries defender, who does the defensive side of the game more effectively than the 24-year-old.
Player Games Goals Assists Minutes
Rayan Ait-Nouri 37 4 7 3128
Milos Kerkez 38 2 6 3342
Rayan Ait-Nouri and Milos Kerkez’s 24/25 Premier League stats
Only time will tell which club got the better deal, and over the coming months, that is bound to become a debate between the two fan bases.