Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri, with the deal expected to go through before the early summer transfer window deadline.
According to LancsLive, the left-back is being brought in to solve a long-standing issue at full-back, with City ending last season relying on makeshift solutions, including attacking midfielder Nico O’Reilly. While Josko Gvardiol provided cover, his stronger performances came in central defence alongside Ruben Dias, giving manager Pep Guardiola a clearer picture for his ideal backline.
Ait-Nouri has emerged as one of Wolves’ most reliable wide players. The Algerian international is known for his forward runs and improving defensive work. At just 23, he also offers long-term value and positional flexibility, including the ability to play as an inverted full-back if required.
But his arrival comes with a challenge.
City will likely lose Ait-Nouri during a key part of the 2025–26 campaign due to his international duty with Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. AFCON 2025 is scheduled to run from December 21 to January 18, clashing with a packed domestic calendar that includes the festive Premier League run, FA Cup third-round ties, and the opening of the winter transfer window.
As Guardiola builds his squad depth, the absence of key players like Ait-Nouri — and potentially Omar Marmoush, who is expected to feature for Egypt — could leave gaps. Marmoush has quickly become a dependable option in attack, and missing both could test City’s rotation plans across multiple fronts.
“AFCON always causes problems for clubs, but losing two potential starters for a month could be decisive,” a source close to the club shared.
Using this season’s fixture schedule as a reference, Manchester City faced six matches during the same timeframe last year, with two more either side that would be impacted if players advanced deep into the competition. The exact release dates remain unconfirmed, but with group stages ending December 31, City could be without Ait-Nouri for up to eight matches.
While the club seems confident in finalizing the £33million deal, the absence of two internationals in the thick of the season will be a significant tactical factor. How Guardiola manages his squad during this stretch may define the campaign’s outcome.
This article was updated 2 months ago