Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is pushing for the signing of Algerian international Rayan Aït-Nouri as the Premier League champions seek to address their long-standing issue at left-back.
Since Benjamin Mendy’s departure in August 2021, City have struggled to find a permanent solution on the left flank of defence.
Guardiola has now identified Aït-Nouri as the ideal candidate to fill that gap, and is urging the club to secure the deal before departing for the United States ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
A source close to the player revealed that while a final agreement between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers has not yet been reached, negotiations are progressing.
City are said to have submitted a £50 million offer for the 22-year-old, who has been attracting attention from several top European clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur are among the sides interested in Aït-Nouri and reportedly made a €35 million bid.
However, City’s financial muscle and participation in the upcoming Club World Cup give them a distinct edge in the race for his signature.
“Rayan Aït-Nouri is ready for a new challenge,” former Algeria international Billel Dziri told local media, signalling strong support from within the Algerian football community for the move.
Manchester City are reportedly aiming to finalise the deal by 10 June to ensure the full-back is registered in time for the Club World Cup group stage.
Guardiola is believed to be keen on integrating Aït-Nouri into his plans as early as possible to allow for a smooth transition into the squad’s tactical setup.
Aït-Nouri, who is currently with Algeria’s national team for friendlies against Rwanda on 5 June and Sweden on 10 June, remains under contract with Wolverhampton until June 2026, with an option for a one-year extension.
The former Angers defender has seen his market value rise steadily in recent seasons. He is currently valued at €35 million and earns an annual salary of €592,083.
Should the move go through, it would mark a significant step forward in Aït-Nouri’s career, elevating him to one of Europe’s top clubs and offering him the opportunity to compete on the world stage with Manchester City.
