Manchester City appear poised to move for a Wolves left-back | OneFootball

Now that the 24/25 season is over for Manchester City attention now turns to the summer transfer window. Although the 24/25 season was a disappointing one for Pep Guardiola’s side they do have a strong squad to add to over the summer. It isn’t far-fetched to say that if City get the summer transfer window right they could quickly return to the top of English football.

Several holes in Pep Guardiola’s squad need to be filled this summer. One of those is at left-back. Signing a quality left-back could add another dimension to Manchester City’s play. A new report indicates Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri has caught Manchester City’s eye. It is believed that he is high on Manchester City’s list of targets for this summer.

Manchester City appear to be making a move for Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Fabrizio Romano has reported via his official X account that Manchester City have asked for deal conditions to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves. Furthermore, Romano adds that Ait-Nouri is high on Manchester City’s list of summer targets. Romano’s report can be seen below.

Rayan Ait-Nouri would add exactly what Pep Guardiola’s squad needs.

Signing a new left-back would give Pep Guardiola another attacking weapon. Signing one with the technical ability of Rayan Ait-Nouri would give Manchester City another attacking outlet. Looking at how Manchester City have played recently there is merit to the idea of signing Rayan Ait-Nouri this summer. Pep Guardiola has used overlapping full-backs of late, plus Ait-Nouri could also play as an inverted full-back if required.

The strengths of Rayan Ait-Nouri’s play are clear to see. He is a player blessed with exceptional technical ability. There is also an intelligence to Ait-Nouri’s play and it does stand out when he plays. The Wolves left-back can play as an overlapping full-back or he can invert into midfield when required. Those two attributes would immediately slot into Pep Guardiola’s squad. Rayan Ait-Nouri is a good dribbler and is especially adept at playing in tight spaces. That is another attribute that would appeal to Manchester City. Going forward his delivery from wide areas would add to Manchester City’s attacking play. He can also pick out a pass and that would add another element to City’s play. The chart below does give an indication of where the strengths of Ait-Nouri’s game lie.

The major question marks that surround Rayan Ait-Nouri as a player are his defensive frailties. He isn’t strong in the air, nor is he strong in a challenge. He isn’t a poor defender by any stretch, but that is the biggest question mark in his game.

But as a player, in a team that typically dominates possession like Manchester City Rayan Ait-Nouri could be a shrewd signing. It will be interesting to see if Manchester City do pursue a move for the Wolves left-back. But on paper at least it does make sense for City to potentially move for the Wolves left-back. It’s now one of several transfer stories to monitor ahead of and during the summer transfer window from a Manchester City point of view.