TBR Football can exclusively reveal how much Manchester City could pay to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri as they look set to sign the Algerian international.
Manchester City have liked Ait-Nouri for ages as they conducted background checks in May to determine whether he would be a suitable fit for their side.
However, Wolves were ready to extend Ait-Nouri’s contract as his current deal expires next year.
But it looks like the former Angers defender could be set for a move to the Etihad Stadium.
Man City could sign Rayan Ait-Nouri for £45 million
TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has been told that Manchester City could now sign Rayan Ait-Nouri for a fee of £45 million.
City’s Sporting director Hugo Viana is a fan of Ait-Nouri, as the full-back position was an area of the Sky Blues’ squad that the club were keen on addressing this summer.
Photo by Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Graeme Bailey revealed: “As we revealed at the start of May, Manchester City started doing serious work on Ait-Nouri towards the end of the season. He is a player that I am told Hugo Viana is a big fan of and thinks can make a big impact at City.
“The full-back area is a cause of concern and they want to address it. Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis filled in during the season whilst long-term the club don’t believe Josko Gvardiol is a true left-back.
Sky Blues target Milos Kerkez wants to join Liverpool while Andrea Cambiaso, who Manchester City were interested in signing are two players who they believe are not better options than Ait-Nouri.
Graeme Bailey stated: “They did work on Milos Kerkez and as we know Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso is someone they liked too, but City believe that Ait-Nouri is the best for them going forward. Sources are telling us that a similar fee to which Liverpool are going to pay for Kerkez of around £45million will be what Wolves are looking for with Ait-Nouri.”
Man City’s most expensive defenders of all time
For £45 million, Ait-Nouri could potentially be a steal for Manchester City.
The Wolves technician is just 23, Premier League-proven and tactically versatile, capable of playing as a traditional left-back, in a wing-back role and as an inverted full-back as well.
If Ait-Nouri does join Manchester City, he would be their eighth most expensive defensive arrival.
MANCHESTER CITY’S MOST EXPENSIVE DEFENDERS FEE
JOSKO GVARDIOL £77.6m
RUBEN DIAS £65m
JOAO CANCELO £60m
AYMERIC LAPORTE £57m
BENJAMIN MENDY £52m
KYLE WALKER £50m
JOHN STONES £47m
RAYAN AIT-NOURI (IF HE SIGNS) £45m
Out of the aforementioned names, the likes of Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and John Stones could go down as City legends.
While the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo and Josko Gvardiol have proven to be excellent signings as well when City splashed the cash to sign them.