Manchester City have been very busy during the first phase of this summer’s transfer window.
The 2024/25 campaign was a tough one for everyone associated with the Manchester club, and as a result, Pep Guardiola is keen to add four or five new faces to his squad ahead of the new season so that he doesn’t have to experience what he has felt over the last year.
The midfield is set to be at the heart of Man City’s rebuild, with everything now in place for the Premier League club to officially announce the signing of Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan.
Man City have also agreed a deal with Wolves for Rayan Ait-Nouri, as the left-back role has been a concern for Guardiola for years, with the Algerian star now set for his medical on Saturday.
Speaking about City’s new signings, Micah Richards seems over the moon; however, the former right-back does have a concern about the Wolves man.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Micah Richards is concerned about Rayan Ait-Nouri defensively
Guardiola has had an eye on Ait-Nouri for years, and the legendary coach has made a move for the full-back this summer off the back of a very impressive 2024/25 campaign, in which the Algerian star produced four goals and seven assists across 37 Premier League appearances.
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The 24-year-old is one of the best attacking full-backs in the English top flight, but Richards admits that he is concerned about the Wolves star from a defensive point of view.
“Ait Nouri, I think he’s been amazing for years now. I’ve said it on the ball. On the ball, he is really good,” the former City star said on the Rest Is Football.
“He can open up defences just with his skill on his own at times. He’s not the best defensively, but he’s quick enough to get back if Man City are going to get countered on.
“I think he would add something really special to that side in terms of opening up spaces. Obviously, Gvardiol, I thought, has been Man City’s best player this season. He’s been playing there and he’s been playing at centre-back.
“If John Stones is gonna be back, if Akanji is going to be back, if Ake is going to be back; does Gvardiol move over to centre back or does he share the competition with Ait-Nouri, but he would definitely add an attacking element to the side without doubt.”
Man City were linked with defenders such as Milos Kerkez, who is better defensively than Ait-Nouri, but Guardiola felt that the Wolves star was the right option for him, and it is a move the Manchester club’s strikers will be very happy with.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
How Rayan Ait-Nouri compares to Milos Kerkez
Both Ait-Nouri and Kerkez are coming off the back of brilliant seasons in the Premier League, and it is not hard to see why Man City had an interest in the duo.
However, with Josko Gvardiol having the ability to step across and cover Ait-Nouri when the 24-year-old goes forward, the Algerian star seems to be the better fit as he will help City create chances they struggled to produce at times last season.
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
Kerkez is also very good in the attacking third of the pitch, but the Hungarian star lacks the natural traits of a winger that can be seen in Ait-Nouri’s game.
Richards is right to have some concerns over the Wolves star’s defending, but it seems like Guardiola may have already planned for this when making his move for the 24-year-old.