Manchester City are closing in on a deal to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers left back Rayan Ait-Nouri for a reported £31 million, with another potential £5 million in add ons.
The 24-year-old left national team duty with Algeria to complete his medical on Saturday, with an announcement expected before Tuesday so he can compete with City at the FIFA Club World Cup in a few weeks time.
Rumours from the increasingly reputable “in the know” source @MCIOusmane on X claim that the contracts have been signed and Ait-Nouri will take the number 21 shirt, worn most recently by Sergio Gomez and prior to that City legend David Silva.
Ait-Nouri is expected to be announced as City’s first signing of the summer, with Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders set to follow him.
It’s also very possible that the Blues will complete a deal for French attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki prior to the transfer window before the Club World Cup shutting on June 10th.
But what will his role be at the club?
Manchester City FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Premier League Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Ait-Nouri’s signing suggests that the “proper defenders” era at City is over.
It was adapted during the treble campaign, where Joao Cancelo’s falling out with Pep Guardiola meant the Portuguese defender was shipped on loan to Bayern and City regularly started a back four consisting of four centre backs, including in the UEFA Champions League final win in Istanbul.
Guardiola said he liked the “proper defenders” approach of players who were both comfortable on the ball but solid, strong defenders too.
One member of the back four, usually John Stones, pushed forward into midfield when City had the ball to create an extra man and help City dominate games.
FC Internazionale v Manchester City FC - UEFA Champions League Final 2022/23 Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Ait-Nouri can do this; he’s so technically capable that he can tuck in from the left hand side and hold his own in the middle, and his decision making with the ball and positioning will only improve under Guardiola’s mentorship.
But I think it’s most likely that City are going back to playing more attacking fullbacks, particularly with the development of football moving to be more physical and fast moving.
Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes did a good job playing there at the end of last season, but Ait-Nouri at present at least is an upgrade on O’Reilly at left back.
Sign Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento at right back (which is much easier said than done) and City don’t need to worry about the full back position for a good few years with Livramento, Nunes, Rico Lewis, O’Reilly and Ait-Nouri able to play there.
The Algerian at present is a good defender, but can improve that area of his game. Perhaps against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal, Ait-Nouri may be deemed not yet ready to start, with the more defensive option of Josko Gvardiol preferred.
Speaking of Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri’s arrival should cement the Croatian’s place as City’s regular starting left centre back. I imagine it’ll also pave the way for at least two of John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Vitor Reis (on loan) to leave this summer, with plenty of cover at centre back.
As mentioned above, Ait-Nouri can tuck inside but he can also push wide and play as a winger in possession. He often played on the left of a back five for Wolves so is used to bombing forward from full back.
He’d very much suit Omar Marmoush’s game, allowing the Egyptian forward to drift in closer to goal whilst Ait-Nouri holds the width.
Manchester City FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Premier League Photo by Jack Thomas - WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Similarly, if Jeremy Doku, who prefers to stay wide and dribble at full backs, is playing on the left, Ait-Nouri can tuck more into central areas and make underlapping runs.
Ultimately, this signing makes me think the board are back to their very best. Ait-Nouri is young, established, hungry to win titles, provides healthy competition and raises the floor at left back.
It has all the signs of a brilliant signing in the making.
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC - Premier League Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images