Man City 'expected' to sign Premier League star in latest blockbuster transfer

Manchester City are kickstarting what's set to be a busy summer transfer window with the signing of Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, who's entered the final year of his contract

Manchester City are set to continue their 2025 spending spree with the signing of Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri. City splashed out £180million on four new players in January, the oldest of whom was 25.

Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis were signed to future-proof Pep Guardiola's ageing squad. And their investment into young talent will carry on throughout the summer.

Ait-Nouri, 23, has emerged as City's top left-back target and although no fee has been agreed between the two clubs, the Athletic report that all parties now expect a deal to happen. Bournemouth's £45million-rated Milos Kerkez has also been linked but Liverpool are the favourites to sign him.

Wolves have already lost star man Matheus Cunha to Manchester United after they triggered his £62.5million release clause. City hope that Ait-Nouri's signing can be agreed in time for the Club World Cup.

The Premier League giants begin their campaign against Moroccan side Wydad AC on Wednesday, June 18. Guardiola's men will also play Al-Ain of the UAE and Italian heavyweights Juventus in Group G.

Ait-Nouri has entered the final year of his contract with Wolves, although the club have an option to extend it until June 2026. Boss Vitor Pereira confirmed last month that he hoped to keep him.

"If you were in my position, would you want to keep him or not?" Pereira asked reporters. "Me too. He's a top player and we want to keep our best players.

"The target is to keep our best players and to bring in not too many players because then we would have to start again. I don't want to start again from the beginning but some positions we need to be stronger next season.

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"He (Ait-Nouri) is a top player. He can give us a lot and he can give us even more than he has this season because I believe that next season he can create different solutions, and I will do it with him."

The French-born Algeria international has made 157 appearances for Wolves since moving to Molineux from Angers in 2020. Ait-Nouri provided five goals and seven assists in 41 games this season.

City are also in negotiations to sign midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and are weighing up a move for Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White. Lyon forward Rayan Cherki is another rumoured target.