Left-back has been an area of concern for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City this season.
The Spanish coach has not been using a natural full-back in the position throughout the 2024/25 campaign, but instead has deployed centre-back Josko Gvardiol in the role, before midfielder Nico O’Reilly began to excel in the position over the last month.
Guardiola’s long-term plan for O’Reilly is to use him as a number six, something the 20-year-old is not too keen on as he wants to play further up the pitch, while Gvardiol has excelled at centre-back recently.
Man City plan to add at least one full-back to their squad this summer, and ahead of the upcoming transfer window, a Premier League boss is adamant that one of the Manchester club’s targets is going nowhere.
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Wolves intend to keep Man City target Rayan Ait-Nouri
Rayan Ait-Nouri is one of the most exciting full-backs in the Premier League at present as the 23-year-old has been critical for Wolves in the attacking third.
The Telegraph reported recently that the Algerian star has been on Man City’s radar for some time, however, Wolves are currently preparing to offer the £50m-rated defender a new contract at Molineux.
The Midlands club’s head coach, Vitor Pereira, has also just confirmed that he wants to keep Ait-Nouri for next season and that he doesn’t expect the 23-year-old to leave over the coming months.
“If you were in my position, would you want to keep him or not?” Pereira asked reporters during a press conference on Friday via The Athletic. “Me too. He’s a top player and we want to keep our best players.
“The target is to keep our best players and to bring in not too many players because then we would have to start again. I don’t want to start again from the beginning but some positions we need to be stronger next season.
“He (Ait-Nouri) is a top player. He can give us a lot and he can give us even more than he has this season because I believe that next season he can create different solutions, and I will do it with him.”
Although Jamie Carragher believed Ait-Nouri should have seen red against Man City last Friday night, the left-back impressed at the Etihad Stadium and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.
The 23-year-old would be a nice option for City, but this news is not the end of the world for Guardiola, as the legendary coach already has his top target in mind.
Andrea Cambiasso is Man City’s top left-back target
Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso has been linked to Man City in recent weeks, and it was reported this week by the Daily Mail that the Italian star is a signing the Premier League club continues to look into.
Man City showed interest in Cambiaso during the January transfer window, but opted not to make a move, with a big attraction for Guardiola being the player’s ability to play on both the left and the right.
| Player | Games | Goals | Assists | Minutes |
| Andrea Cambiaso | 40 | 2 | 4 | 2747 |
| Rayan Ait-Nouri | 38 | 5 | 7 | 3162 |
The report states that City may only go for one full-back this summer, with the right-hand side being viewed as more urgent. Irrespective, Cambiaso would cover both bases and Guardiola famously likes flexible players.
It remains to be seen if Man City make an official move for the Italian star in the coming weeks, as the 25-year-old ticks a lot of boxes for the Manchester club.
