Manchester City have been working behind the scenes for weeks to strengthen their squad. The English club have not rested on their laurels from the previous seasons, after a disappointing season in 2024/25 and are already making moves to regain their dominance.
While other teams wait for the July transfer window, Guardiola’s men are stepping up their efforts. City scouts have been tracking several young prospects in France, and one of them has gained momentum in recent weeks. With many clubs keeping an eye on Ligue 1’s gems, the Sky Blues have taken the lead. And now, with the work done behind the scenes, they are about to sign a special talent.
Manchester City Have Reached Personal Agreement With Rayan Cherki
According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have already reached a full personal agreement with Rayan Cherki, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder from Lyon. The French player, one of the most promising of his generation, had been on City’s radar for some time. Although others, such as Liverpool, had sounded out his situation, it was City who moved decisively. Cherki has given his approval to the change of scenery and is looking forward to his move to England. In the coming hours, the Manchester club are expected to make a formal offer to Lyon.
DECINES-CHARPIEU, FRANCE – APRIL 10: Rayan Cherki of Olympique Lyonnais during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester United at OL Stadium on April 10, 2025 in Decines-Charpieu, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Why Will It Be A Very Good Move?
From City’s point of view, this move fits in with their transfer policy. Guardiola has opted for technical players with creativity and versatility, and Cherki offers just that. He can play inside or start from the wing, he has dribbling skills, vision, and skills to take on defenders. Technically, he is well above average for his age, which makes him ideal for the possession style demanded by Guardiola. In addition, the Frenchman’s age allows him to develop without urgency, integrating him gradually, as was the case with Foden.
But there are more layers to this story. Signing Cherki also responds to a broader context: City need to rejuvenate their attack and midfield. Mahrez is gone, and an important player like De Bruyne will also not be there from next season.
Cherki represents the future, but also an immediate option in tight games. He can break lines with ease, something Guardiola values highly. From another perspective, this move can also be seen as a message to the rest of Europe: City do not wait, they act. In a summer where many are still looking at prices, Manchester City are already securing young talent. And Cherki, if he performs as expected, could be a gem in the sky blue system.
In a recent edition of Transfers From Paradise, journalist Dean Jones claimed that Tottenham Hotspur have identified Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo as a target. Jones said,
“One man who could be joining him in the Saudi Pro League is Son Heung-min.
“He looks set to leave Spurs, which is no major surprise as that has been mooted for a while. One thing Spurs lose if he goes is experience that could be key for a Champions League campaign.
“At the moment, the club are pressing ahead with negotiations on a fee to take Mathys Tel on a permanent deal, but I am also starting to hear whispers that Antoine Semenyo is one of the players they could look to sign.”
Semenyo’s Decent Run Of Form In The Premier League
Semenyo had an impressive season at the Vitality Stadium as he put in a string of eye-catching performances for the Cherries in the final third. The 25-year-old scored 13 goals and picked up seven assists in 42 matches for Bournemouth last season in multiple competitions.
The Ghanaian talent gave a good account of himself on the left flank based on his average of 3.51 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League. However, he only kept 32% of his attempts on target. Semenyo also needs to improve his ball distribution after making 73.4% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via fbref.com).
What Will Semenyo Bring To Tottenham Hotspur?
Semenyo has got the pace to cause a lot of problems for his marker out in the wide areas. He can strike the ball with venom from long range and has got the vision to engineer a few good chances for his teammates to find the back of the net.
The Ghana international is primarily a left-winger but can also operate as a right-sided wide player if told to do so. He already knows the Premier League well and won’t take much time to settle into life in North London.
Semenyo would bring more pace and goals to Tottenham‘s frontline. He is good enough to serve as a decent replacement for Heung-min Son, who struggled to find consistency with his performances for Spurs last season.
At 25, the best is yet to come from Semenyo, so the North London giants would do well to lure him away from Bournemouth this summer.