Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City announced themselves in the summer transfer window by moving close to two transfers ahead of their opening Club World Cup match in two weeks' time.
City have agreed a £46.3m deal with AC Milan to sign midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutch international is set to complete a medical and sign a five-year deal with the Blues.
Meanwhile, according to reports, they have also agreed personal terms to sign Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki, with the club expected to lodge an official bid with the French side imminently.
Cherki scored 12 goals and registered 20 assists in all competitions this season and can play right across the attacking midfield positions.
With both deals looking likely to be completed, City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak looks like he is making good on his promise to secure City's priority signings prior to the start of the Club World Cup.
And that also means, they will make moves for other positions they want to strengthen in the transfer market.
A new left-back was made a priority at the start of the window and City are expected to press ahead with a £50million move for Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.
City are also monitoring possible moves for a new right-back. Kyle Walker has no future at the club and neither Rico Lewis or Matheus Nunes have convinced in the role. Tino Livramento has been mooted as a possible target but any deal with Newcastle would be difficult and expensive.
There is also the challenge of replacing Kevin De Bruyne. Cherki has played most of his football on the right-wing for Lyon and while he can play in the 10 role he does not seem like a direct replacement for the outgoing Belgian.
City pulled out of the race to sign Florian Wirtz with Liverpool looking likely to sign the German international instead. They have a long held interest in Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White but it remains to be seen whether they will go close to Forest's £100million valuation.