Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolverhampton Wanderers (Image: Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images.)
Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri with the move expected to be completed before Tuesday's initial transfer window deadline.
City have long had a vacancy at left back and ended last season with academy graduate and natural attacking midfielder Nico O'Reilly playing there. Josko Gvardiol occupied the position for much of the season but his natural home is in the middle of defence and his partnership with Ruben Dias in the closing weeks of the campaign showed the merit in playing the Croatia international at centre back.
Ait-Nouri has caught the eye at Molineux as a wing back and offers an attacking intent along with improved defensive capabilities and the intelligence to potentially play as an inverted full back.
But his signing will bring one problem later in the year in the shape of the Africa Cup of Nations. Ait-Nouri is a regular for an Algeria side who are one of the favourites to lift the title and it could see the new boy absent for more than a month of the campaign.
It's not just Ait-Nouri who City could lose either, with Omar Marmoush set to form a key part of the Egypt squad for the tournament in Morocco.
Omar Marmoush of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Crystal Palace FC at Etihad Stadium
Omar Marmoush of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Crystal Palace FC at Etihad Stadium
AFCON runs from December 21 to January 18 and clashes with a busy period in the Premier League with the hectic Christmas schedule often a defining point in the calendar, while the FA Cup starts in January for Premier League clubs and the winter transfer window will also open.
Using this season's City fixture list as a guide, there were six matches during the period earmarked for AFCON this year plus two within days either side where players would be away if they advanced to the final.
The date for clubs to release players is yet to be determined because the tournament falls outside FIFA window but with the group stage running until December 31, it seems certain the pair will miss at least four fixtures and up to seven or eight.
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