Manchester City are on the verge of a £114million triple swoop to kickstart a new era after agreeing a fee with Lyon for maverick attacker Rayan Cherki.
Clubs participating in the Club World Cup have until 7pm on Tuesday to complete deals ahead of the tournament – and City have been working hard to make sure three new signings join them in America.
Rayan Ait-Nouri has sealed a £33.7m switch from Wolves to solve Pep Guardiola’s problem area at left back, with AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders having undergone a medical at City too.
Reijnders, the energetic central midfielder, is joining for an initial £46.3m in what has been a fast start to Hugo Viana’s first summer as director of football.
Both are expected to be named in Guardiola’s travelling party and City are hopeful that Cherki will also be available after settling on a £33.7m fee with Lyon.
The France international, 21, is keen to have the move finalised in time to play in the United States.
Rayan Cherki could play for Man City in the Club World Cup with a deal having been agreed
Cherki impressed on his France debut alongside Kylian Mbappé in the Nations League
The 21-year-old star has been described as ‘one of the best technicians in Europe’
A stunning goal on his international debut against Spain in the Nations League last week underlined why City have pushed for somebody renowned for opening up defences.
City’s opening game of the Club World Cup is against Wydad AC next week and Guardiola’s team fly out for a short pre-tournament camp in Miami on Thursday.
Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish will not be with them. And neither will Scott Carson, with the club announcing that the popular third-choice goalkeeper is leaving at the end of his contract.
City are working on bringing in Chelsea’s Marcus Bettinelli to act as back up to Ederson and Stefan Ortega.
