Axar hopes to have du Plessis back for DC's next game

There’s been no update on the nature of du Plessis’ injury, and Axar Patel, the DC captain, is expecting an update from the team physio soon

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Apr-20252:15

Pujara: Fraser-McGurk needs to be aggressive in his first five-ten balls

Faf du Plessis, the Delhi Capitals (DC) vice-captain, hasn’t played since April 10, when he picked up an injury during the match away against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).Axar Patel, the DC captain, isn’t totally sure where du Plessis stands with his fitness – and hasn’t confirmed the nature of the injury – but is hoping he would be back for DC’s next game, away against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday.”I had been told that he wouldn’t be able to play three matches – that’s the time he needs to recover – and two matches are done,” Axar said after DC’s Super Over win against Rajasthan Royals (RR). “Maybe he will play the Gujarat game. But the physio has to confirm how his rehab has been going.”Related

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There was another injury concern for DC when Kuldeep Yadav landed heavily while attempting to field a ball in the deep in the 17th over of the chase. The physio checked his bowling shoulder and he went off immediately.”I have no update on Kuldeep yet,” Axar said. “If something serious had happened, then we would have known by now.”Against RCB, it was off Axar’s bowling that du Plessis put in a sprint from extra cover after an aerial hit from Rajat Patidar. He couldn’t get to the ball and, after that over – the eighth – was done, he walked off. He went out to open the innings later and scored 2 off seven balls.He missed DC’s next game, against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 5. At the time, Axar had just said, “Faf isn’t fit.”DC would want the experienced du Plessis back in their line-up at the earliest, even though they have continued to stack up the wins with or without him.The win over RR was their fifth in six matches, and they have found a solid replacement in Abishek Porel, who is DC’s second-highest run-scorer at this stage – behind KL Rahul – with 156 runs from six innings at a strike rate of 143.11.The concern, though, is Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has played all six matches so far, but has tallied just 55 runs at a strike rate of 105.76 with a best of 38. With Tristan Stubbs going well for DC, averaging 76.00 and scoring at 163.44, du Plessis, when he’s back, could well push Fraser-McGurk out of the team.

Medical ongoing: Nottingham Forest agree late deal for £54k-a-week defender

Nottingham Forest have now agreed a late deal to sign an “incredible” defender, with his medical currently ongoing, it has been revealed.

Tricky Trees keen on new defender after West Ham disaster

Last time out, Nuno suffered his worst home defeat since taking over as Forest manager, with West Ham United emerging as shock 3-0 winners at The City Ground, and the manager was left extremely disappointed with his side’s performance.

Nuno said: “It’s not the best day to speak. We have to address what is happening. The job now is more about the team, I’m worried about the team because it was shocking.”

The 51-year-old has made it clear he wants to deepen his squad throughout the summer transfer window, and he was left disgruntled by the fact deals have been left to the latter stages of the transfer window.

Nottingham Forest managerNunoEspiritoSanto before the match

It appears as though Nuno’s wish has now been granted, with the Tricky Trees advancing in talks to sign S.C. Braga’s Roger Fernandes, while they are also closing in on a deal for RC Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa.

Given the manner of the defeat against West Ham, however, Nottingham Forest now want to get another defender through the door, and they have agreed a deal to sign Atletico Madrid full-back Javi Galan.

That is according to a report from The Athletic, which states Galan is currently undergoing a medical in Madrid ahead of completing a move to The City Ground, which will be for an undisclosed fee.

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The left-back is set to sign a three-year contract with the Tricky Trees, which includes the option of an extra 12 months, with the £54k-a-week defender set to arrive alongside fellow full-back Nicolo Savona, who recently arrived from Juventus.

"Incredible" Galan should be solid signing for Forest

One of the main reasons Nuno has been keen to get more players through the door is because his side are set to embark on a European campaign, which will mean an increase in the number of fixtures.

The Forest boss said: “So we have ahead of us the Premier League, Europa League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup. You know how many games this means for us. This is the respect that we have to show to our squad. Help them.”

As such, it would make sense to get more players with European experience through the door, and the Atletico defender made six appearances in the Champions League last season.

Not only that, but the 30-year-old has also impressed domestically, being lauded as “incredible” by journalist Pascual Ruiz Arnal after impressing against Real Madrid in the 2024-25 campaign.

Galan’s experience means he should be a solid signing for Nottingham Forest, and it will be music to Nuno’s ears that the deal is now edging towards completion.

Nottingham Forest submit £20m+ bid to sign "valuable" ace after Kalimuendo

In a late flurry of deals, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign a Bundesliga attacker for Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nottingham Forest agree Kalimuendo deal

Whilst it has been a steady summer at Forest, with their biggest deal arguably being Morgan Gibbs-White’s new contract, Nuno reiterated that there is still work that needs to be done.

The Forest boss told reporters: “Dealing with doubts is the worst thing you can have in football. We have doubts, who is going to be [here], when are they [new signings] going to come? All these things create doubts.

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“Not only me but in the club. What we want is game-by-game to have as many options as possible. Europe will come after, and for sure it will be better, but for now until that happens it is a major concern.

“The owner is aware, the club is aware, everyone is aware. Everybody knows the reality. This is a lost chance that we had as a group to do it.”

It seems as though Nuno is set to get an answer to his questions and the chance to ease his doubts, however. Following his strong words, Forest have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo, whilst the likes of Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee also now look destined for the City Ground this month.

It’s a late-summer spending spree which may be far from done. Reports are now indicating that Forest have also submitted an opening bid to sign a Bundesliga talent.

Nottingham Forest submit Leweling offer

According to Sky Germany, Nottingham Forest submitted an opening bid to sign Jamie Leweling worth €25m (£22m) with add-ons.

VfB Stuttgart have rejected this first offer, and the German club reportedly have no intention of selling their star winger, but whether more interest from the Premier League changes that remains to be seen.

League stats 24/25

Anthony Elanga

Jamie Leweling

Minutes

2,501

1,663

Goals

6

11

Assists

2

2

Key Passes

50

25

Those at the City Ground are seemingly willing to take a chance on Leweling despite a relatively tough season last time out. Although a hamstring injury disrupted his campaign, the German would have been disappointed to end on just four goal involvements in the Bundesliga last time out.

On paper, the 24-year-old does not have the output levels to replace Anthony Elanga, who decided to swap the Midlands for Newcastle United earlier this summer.

Jamie Leweling celebrates with Stuttgart teammate Angelo Stiller.

Nonetheless, Leweling has still earned plenty of praise in Germany. Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth told reporters: “Jamie featured in every Bundesliga match [last season], and that statistic alone shows just how important he is to the team.

“His commitment and willingness to work for the team make him a very valuable player for us. We also think that he has plenty of potential to develop further, and that’s why we decided to tie Jamie down to VfB on a long-term deal.”

West Brom could land Mason's very own Rondon by signing £4.3m star

Ryan Mason has undergone a lot of pre-seasons as a player.

However, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder turned West Bromwich Albion boss is now close to completing his first summer in football as a rookie manager, with all the pre-season fixtures done and dusted ahead of Championship action kicking back off.

ryan-mason-tottenham-hotspur-eric-dier-lenglet-aston-villa-team-news

Mason will be hoping he’s the spark from the dug-out that guides the Baggies back up to the promised land of the Premier League, with West Brom deep into their fifth straight season as a second-tier outfit when matches get back underway.

The 33-year-old has been well-backed in the transfer window, with a whopping £4.7m solely splashed out on landing the clinical Aune Heggebo from Brann, as the lavish spending looks set to potentially continue in the centre-forward department.

West Brom could go back in for £4.3m star

The proof will soon be in the pudding as to whether that amount was too steep to fork out for Heggebo.

However, his numbers playing in his native Norway do not lie, with a mightily impressive 51 goals coming his way for Brann from 146 appearances. Subsequently, Mason is now spoiled for choice up top between his new, shiny 24-year-old and West Brom’s main marksman, Josh Maja.

He could have even more options to call into action if reports from Spain are to be believed, with a new update coming to light on West Brom’s previous centre-forward target, Chris Ramos.

Indeed, Diairo De Cadiz has stated that the Cadiz attacker is generating plenty of interest this summer in his services, but there is no rush to offload him just yet.

The La Liga 2 club is waiting for an offer in the £4.3m region to consider parting ways, having had a far lower £2.1m bid from the Championship side come their way in recent times.

The hope will be that the 6-foot-3 Spaniard can go on to be Mason’s very own Salomon Rondon, with the lofty striker often a physical brute when powering home goal after goal for Cadiz, much like the imposing Venezuelan was at the Hawthorns.

How Ramos can be Mason's own Rondon

Of course, when Rondon was leading the line as a formidable centre-forward, West Brom were seen as Premier League regulars, rather than second-tier promotion material.

While the now 35-year-old was never the most clinical or the most eye-catching – with a reasonable 28 strikes coming his way from 120 Baggies outings – nobody could speak ill about his commitment to the cause, as his final season at the Hawthorns saw him win a dominant 7.7 duels on average per Premier League clash.

Ramos has shown off a similar prowess in the air for Cadiz all across his ongoing stay at his hometown club, with this powerful effort above showing off the 28-year-old’s ability to head home under pressure in a similar vein to Rondon.

Staggeringly, Ramos wasn’t too far off Rondon’s duels won total either when plying his trade in La Liga during the 2023/24 campaign, as the Spanish forward averaged a mighty 7.1 successful duels per match, even as Gaizka Garitano’s side succumbed to relegation.

Ramos’ league numbers for Cadiz (23/24) + (24/25)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Ramos (23/24)

Ramos (24/25)

Games played

37

37

Games started

30

24

Goals scored

5

10

Scoring frequency

Every 525 minutes

Every 223 minutes

Big chances missed

16

15

Total duels won*

7.1

5.1

Stats by Sofascore

West Brom do need an option up top that can throw themselves about with conviction, especially with Daryl Dike now back in the treatment room, with Ramos also a reliable source of goals for Cadiz across his last two breakout seasons, as seen in his tally of 15 strikes in all competitions.

While Ramos might struggle initially to instantly break into the first-team ranks, possessing a striker with such strong physical attributes will be an effective weapon for Mason to have up his sleeve across the long EFL season to come.

If he does go on to be a success, the Cadiz number 16 could retrace Rondon’s footsteps even more by becoming a tough, no-nonsense attacker for the West Midlands outfit in the luxurious Premier League.

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Rangers in talks to sign another "exciting" PL ace who the 49ers know well

Despite just welcoming Mikey Moore on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers are reportedly back in the Premier League market and have opened talks to sign a talent who the 49ers know well.

Martin "thrilled" to welcome "aggressive" Moore

It’s been an impressive overhaul by Rangers this summer and Moore instantly stands out as one of their best arrivals. The exciting 17-year-old often showed glimpses of what he is capable of whenever given the opportunity at Tottenham and a loan move to Rangers should provide him with the platform to begin realising what is incredibly high potential.

Speaking for the first time since sealing his loan move, the young winger told Rangers’ official website: “I’m excited to get going. As soon as I heard Rangers were interested and wanted me to come, it was a massive opportunity for me.

“I’m excited to be here and hopefully I can show the fans and everyone what I can do. I’ve always loved Rangers as a club. My family have always loved them. I think with the new boss and the way that we play, it’s a great place to be at the minute. It was a pretty easy decision for me to come here.”

Russell Martin was also thrilled to get the deal over the line, saying: “We are thrilled to bring Mikey on loan for this season. His profile as a brave, aggressive attacking player is one that we were keen to add to the squad, and he is certainly a player who, despite his age, can make an impact on the team from day one.

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“He is a player with huge potential, and it is testament to his quality that he has been entrusted by Spurs in both the Premier League and UEFA Europa League with such regularity over the last 18 months.”

Those at Ibrox aren’t done there with their shopping in the Premier League, however. Reports are now claiming that they’ve opened talks to sign a young talent who the 49ers know well.

Leeds open talks to sign Joe Gelhardt

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Rangers have now opened talks to sign Joe Gelhardt in a permanent deal from Leeds United, who are also owned by the 49ers.

The 23-year-old forward spent the second half of last season on loan at Hull City, having struggled for game time at Elland Road, and ended his spell with five goals to his name. It was a loan move which, ultimately, lacked consistency but one that seemingly showed Rangers enough to warrant a summer move.

Whilst Gelhardt struggled for starts at Leeds, Martin and Rangers could yet provide him with the platform that he has desperately needed for the last 12 months.

It’s then that he could realise his best form and prove Jamie Rednkapp right, who said when speaking about Gelhardt in 2021: “He’s like a human wrecking ball. I like him; he’s really exciting. He’s fast; he’s aggressive; he gets on the ball, he takes people on.”

Romano: Man Utd now in contact over move for 23 y/o star on main shortlist

Manchester United are beginning to lay their transfer priorities on the table and have stepped up their interest in a key target at Old Trafford, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd finalise Bryan Mbeumo deal

There have been weeks of speculation surrounding Bryan Mbeumo’s move to Manchester United from Brentford. However, he has now arrived at Carrington and is set to seal a transfer to the Theatre of Dreams imminently.

The Cameroon star is set to bolster Ruben Amorim’s attack for a fee that could reach £71 million, inclusive of add-ons, and Romano has delivered the decisive news that he will officially join the Red Devils in time for the Premier League Summer Series.

In light of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro coming in at Chelsea, Manchester United have also turned their attention to Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson after missing out on Hugo Ekitike and Viktor Gyokeres.

Despite his £100 million valuation, Jason Wilcox is keen to cut a deal at a more affordable figure if the Senegal international is permitted to leave Stamford Bridge permanently.

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Modern-day transfers take a different form when it comes to their structure. Manchester United are reported to have agreed personal terms with Valencia midfielder Javier Guerra. Still, it remains to be seen whether they can reach a club-to-club arrangement on a fee.

Entering a transitional period following a poor showing last year, the Red Devils will look to offload several fringe players to ensure they can recruit new personnel without violating PSR regulations.

Truly, it feels like there is nobody off-limits bar a select few, so it will come as no surprise to hear Amorim is keen on adding competition to an area that has proved problematic in recent years.

Romano: Man Utd make contact regarding Senne Lammens

According to world-renowned transfer reporter Romano, Manchester United have made “initial contact” to be informed on Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens’ situation, and the 23-year-old is said to be on their “main” shortlist if Amorim chooses to change tact between the sticks.

Aston Villa stopper Emiliano Martinez is another name being closely watched, albeit any move for the Argentina international would come at a greater financial cost.

Putting Andre Onana’s future in doubt, Lammens kept 10 clean sheets in 44 appearances last term across all competitions, conceding 56 goals.

Senne Lammens for Royal Antwerp.

Labelled “exciting” by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, the 23-year-old maintained a save percentage of 81.9% over the last 365 days relative to his peers and is a rising star who could be a future number one at Old Trafford for years to come.

However, you get the feeling any deal would be reliant on Onana moving elsewhere, which may create a waiting game for all concerned.

Frank's next Mbeumo: Spurs discussing move to sign "world-class" £70m star

Tottenham Hotspur have taken a risk this summer in sacking Ange Postecoglou, especially after the Aussie ended their 17-year wait for any form of silverware.

The responsibility has subsequently fallen into the hands of Thomas Frank, who was appointed as the new boss on a three-year contract, with the hierarchy forking out £10m for his signature from Brentford.

The Dane will likely be under huge pressure to make a fast start to his tenure, needing to get results on the board and help the club rise up the Premier League table.

Their lowly league standing was what subsequently cost Ange his job in North London, with Frank wanting to avoid such a repeat, which could see his job on the line in the near future.

However, if he is to have the best possible chance of replicating the Aussie, he will need additions, with owner Daniel Levy needing to provide him with the options he craves.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

Xavi Simons is a star who has set Europe alight this season, registering 11 goals for RB Leipzig this season, with Spurs open to making a move for his signature this window.

He’s not the only player in their sights, with Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo also under consideration ahead of a potential deal over the coming weeks.

Antoine Semenyo scores for Bournemouth

However, another name has emerged on their shortlist in recent times, with Brighton and Hove Albion talisman Joao Pedro a firm target for Frank, according to Spurs Web.

They claim that internal talks have been held in North London over a deal for the Brazilian forward, who’s set to leave the AMEX after scoring 10 Premier League goals this season.

It also states that the 23-year-old could be available for around £70m this summer, but face tough competition from Newcastle United and Chelsea for his signature.

Why Spurs’ £70m target could become Frank’s next Mbeumo

During Frank’s reign as Brentford boss, he took the club from the Championship and made them an established top-flight outfit, developing many talents in the process.

Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates after the match

Forward Bryan Mbeumo is just one example, joining from French side Troyes back in 2019, before developing into a leading Premier League star in recent months.

The Cameroonian international managed to score 20 times for the Bees in 2024/25, the most he’s registered in a single season, leading to interest from the Lilywhites and Manchester United.

It appears as though he will move to Old Trafford this window after informing Frank’s side that he’s only interested in a switch to join the Red Devils this window.

Such a decision could see Pedro become a key option for the club in the transfer window, potentially being the Dane’s new version of Mbeumo in North London.

Brighton forward Joao Pedro

The Brazilian has been labelled a similar player to the 25-year-old by FBref, managing to outperform him in numerous key areas throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Pedro, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Ryan Adsett, has posted a better goal and assist per 90 record, handing Frank the added attacking threat he will need in North London.

How Pedro compares to Mbeumo in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Pedro

Mbeumo

Games played

27

38

Goals & assists

16

27

Goals & assists (per 90)

0.74

0.71

Pass accuracy

73%

66%

Passes into final third

1.9

1.6

Take-ons completed

1.4

1.3

Fouls won

2.1

1.1

Aerials won

49%

31%

Stats via FBref

Alongside his goalscoring record, the Brighton star has also completed more passes into the final third and registered a better pass accuracy rate – able to hand out chances to those around him in the final third.

He’s also won more aerial battles and completed a higher tally of take-ons, handing an all-round and versatile option to the manager in his quest for success with the Lilywhites.

£70m may appear to be a hefty price tag for the Brazilian, but it’s a competitive fee for a player who’s been just as impressive as Mbeumo this campaign.

If he can replicate such talents for the Lilywhites next season, he has all the tools to become a fan favourite and play a huge part in the new era at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Haris Rauf on confrontation video: 'When it comes to family, I will not hesitate to respond accordingly'

Haris Rauf, the Pakistan quick bowler, has responded to a video of a confrontation between him and some unidentified men, which has done the rounds on social media, saying he was open to “feedback from the public” but that he will “respond accordingly” if the feedback turned to abuse and his family was targeted.The video in question shows Rauf, with his wife, talking to a few people, and Rauf, not long after, rushing across a hedge towards the group, even as one of the men tries to stop him. There is some pushing and shoving, and some raised voices, before Rauf is taken back across the hedge to where his wife is. The finger-pointing and shouting isn’t quite over when the video ends.In a social-media post, Rauf wrote: “As public figures, we are open to receiving all kinds of feedback from the public. They are entitled to support or criticize us. Nevertheless, when it comes to my parent and my family, I will not hesitate to respond accordingly. It is important to show respect towards people and their families, irrespective of their professions.”

The video appears to have been shot somewhere in the USA – Pakistan’s last group-stage match at the T20 World Cup was played in Lauderhill, against Ireland, which they won but that wasn’t enough for them to progress to the Super Eight stage of the tournament.Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, responded* to the development with a tweet on Tuesday evening, saying, “Strongly condemn the appalling incident involving Haris Rauf. Such actions against our players are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Those who are involved must immediately apologise to Haris Rauf, failing which we will pursue legal action against the individual responsible.”Related

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Rauf is a centrally contracted Pakistan cricketer. His contract, in fact, was reinstated under curious circumstances earlier this year after it had been ripped up. On February 15 this year, the PCB terminated Rauf’s contract because he had made himself unavailable for Pakistan’s Test series against Australia late last year. But on March 24, Rauf had his contract back, with Naqvi calling the episode “a misunderstanding”.At the T20 World Cup, Rauf was among Pakistan’s better performers with the ball, picking up seven wickets in four bowling innings at an economy rate of 6.73. Pakistan, however, lost to USA (in a Super Over) and to India, and failed to make the top two from their group despite closing out their campaign with wins over Canada and Ireland.

West Brom could finally replace Palmer in swoop for "exceptional" EFL star

West Bromwich Albion lost one of their key players in the January transfer window when they sold number one Alex Palmer to Ipswich for a reported £5m.

The English stopper started the first 30 matches of the Championship campaign and kept 11 clean sheets, whilst saving 74% of the shots against his goal.

Instead of dipping into the market to source a replacement for the 28-year-old star, West Brom opted to utilise Joe Wildsmith and Josh Griffiths, which did not go to plan.

Why West Brom need a new goalkeeper

Wildsmith played the first ten matches in the league after Palmer’s move to the Premier League, and conceded 0.95 more than expected based on the xG against him.

He was dropped from the side by Tony Mowbray, though, after the error for the goal above, as he failed to keep out a free-kick from Trai Hume that appeared saveable, certainly from the angle behind the goal.

Griffiths then came into the side and conceded 2.11 more goals than expected and only saved 59% of the shots against his goal in his six appearances in the Championship, conceding 1.8 goals per game on average.

Transfer Focus

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This shows that neither of them were able to replace Palmer’s quality or consistency in the second half of the season, which is why the Baggies should turn to reported transfer target Angus Gunn.

Why West Brom should sign Angus Gunn

SportsBoom recently reported that West Brom are one of a number of Championship clubs eyeing up the Scotland international after it was confirmed that he will be a free agent this summer.

The 29-year-old star is leaving boyhood club Norwich City at the end of his current contract, and the Baggies should swoop to secure a bargain signing.

Gunn, once dubbed “exceptional” by Joe Hart, would arrive as a proven Championship performer who could hit the ground running as an experienced signing, allowing him to nail down the number one position.

Appearances

30

40

34

Clean sheets

7

11

7

Save percentage

72%

69%

67%

Post-shot xG minus goals conceded

+8.2

+4.6

-3.6

Error led to goal

1

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Gunn has only made one error that directly led to a goal in his three seasons in the Championship with the Canaries since their relegation from the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign.

He has also been a net positive as a shot-stopper in that time, preventing 9.2 more goals than expected based on the post-shot xG of the shots against him, which suggests that Gunn could be an impressive operator for the Baggies if he can get back to his best after a difficult year.

The Scotland international showcased his quality against West Brom towards the end of the season, though, with this exceptional save in the clip above.

Now, Gunn could be making those kind of match-winning saves for the Baggies if the club can wrap up a bargain deal for the EFL star on a free transfer to finally replace Palmer as a quality number one option at Championship level next season.

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Left-sided Kyle Walker: Man City targeting "one of the PL's best players"

Manchester City’s summer of spending is seemingly set to commence.

The Sky Blues were the world’s biggest spenders in January, signing Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah for a reported £180m; that’s more than the other 19 Premier League clubs spent combined.

However, this appears likely to be a mere amuse-bouche ahead of the summer rebuild, so will the Citizens snap up one of the Premier League’s best players?

Manchester City targeting a new full-back

According to a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, Manchester City are interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers full-back Rayan Aït-Nouri, having already made ‘background checks’ regarding the Molineux sensation.

As the report goes on to note, Pep Guardiola has previously suggested that they will look to sign a left-back this summer, stating “obviously, Nico’s helping us, but he’s not a left-back… we’ve found solutions”.

Wolves player Rayan Ait-Nouri

So, could Aït-Nouri be that solution, valued at £40m by Wolves, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider?

Well, the Algerian international has certainly caught the eye, with Dougie Critchley of Sky Sports noting that he has “been one of the Premier League’s best players” in recent months, while David O’Brien praises his “creative” qualities.

Transfer Focus

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But would he be a good fit at Man City, and would his potential arrival be reminiscent of the signing of another sky blue stalwart?

Why Ait-Nouri could be the next Kyle Walker

Kyle Walker joined Manchester City from Tottenham back in 2017 for a reported £53m, a world-record fee for a defender at the time.

Fair to say, this proved to be a good investment, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

319

Starts

286

Appearances in goal

1

Minutes

25,716

Goals

6

Assists

23

Premier League titles

6

Champions Leagues

1

FA Cups

2

EFL Cups

4

Total major honours

17

When Walker departed for AC Milan in January, Ali Tweedale of Opta’s the Analyst stated that the Englishman is the Premier League’s ‘best-ever right-back’, while Michael Cox of the Athletic adds that Man City would not have enjoyed nearly as much success as they have in recent times without being ‘reliant on his recovery pace’ which, now that he’s 34, ‘has faded’.

So, could Aït-Nouri have a similar impact at the Etihad? Well, let’s assess his statistics this season to help answer that question.

Starts

34

16th

Minutes

2,865

36th

Goals

4

74th

Assists

7

18th

Pass completion %

83.9%

86th

Key passes

36

52nd

Crosses

86

40th

Shot-creating actions

78

51st

Goal-creating actions

12

28th

Progressive carries

79

41st

Attempted take-ons

116

12th

Take-on success% (min 100 attempted)

48.3%

5th

Tackles

82

13th

Tackles won

52

11th

Interceptions

24

72nd

Ball recoveries

133

48th

Touches

1944

36th

As the table outlines, Aït-Nouri is a very well-rounded full-back, ranking highly when it comes to both attacking and defensive metrics, but also dribbling, with only 11 players having attempted more take-ons, an impressively high figure for a full-back.

The Algerian is also always available, missing just one Premier League match all season, and this was due to a suspension, which would be a very useful asset, considering the defensive injury crisis Man City have endured throughout the season.

Moe Adikwu of Breaking the Lines believes Aït-Nouri possesses ‘enormous potential’, while also noting ‘there is still a lot of room for improvement’, but Venkatanarayanan of Total Football Analysis highlights that he ‘is known for his attacking prowess’, so would therefore thrive in a team higher up the table.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' RayanAit-Nouriin action with Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro

It appears pretty likely that Aït-Nouri will wave goodbye to Wolves this summer, so do Man City lead the race to land his signature? If a deal is to be agreed, he could represent a left-sided version of Walker at full-back.

Major Doku upgrade: Man City eye up move for £85m "world-class superstar"

With Manchester City expected to spend big this summer, could they sign a “special” winger valued at £85m who would be a Massive Jérémy Doku upgrade?

ByBen Gray May 6, 2025

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