Transfer Target Thoughts

Depending on the reports you’ve read, Manchester City are either close to or have reached an agreement for the transfer of Tijjani Reijnders, and the signing will be announced soon. The Club World Cup begins in June, the first match for the team takes place on the 18th against Wydad AC. There is a special transfer window for all clubs competing in the competition from the 1st of June to the 10th. In his end-of-season interview, Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak spoke about the CWC being the start of next season and wanting to have the squad ready for the competition. So, it’s a good time to look at the transfer targets reported.

Now, before going into detail on each of the names, I think it’s important to highlight how the squad could look should all those targets be bought. Particularly because it reminds you how many players must depart this summer to make it happen. That is all 17 non-homegrown spots taken up without including any of the players listed at the bottom.

Kevin De Bruyne (34) is heading to Napoli, which is well reported now. Kyle Walker (34) is to depart permanently, but the destination is yet to be confirmed. The expectation is that Ederson (31) will take up the Saudi move he nearly had last summer. Kalvin Phillips (29), Jack Grealish (29), and James McAtee (22) are all expected to move on.

Guardiola mentioned that any players unable to play every three days, who play less than 30% of minutes, cannot be here next season. That is a pointed message to Nathan Ake (30) and John Stones (31).

There have been reports lately linking Ilkay Gündoğan (34) to Galatasaray. Bernardo Silva (31) has had a few links from Saudi Arabia to Turkey and Portugal. Maximo Perrone (22) is expected to make his Como loan permanent. Likely that Juma Bah (19) will stay out on loan, absolutely one to watch for the future.

Callum Doyle (21), Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (19), and Max Alleyne (19) have all spoken about getting regular first-team minutes, so they could be looking at sales/loans this summer. I’d be surprised if Divine Mubama (20) isn’t sold or loaned out this summer.

That’s to give you an idea of how busy the exit door is going to be this summer, and in my opinion, the club is likely to get close to £200M in sales.

Now, let’s get into the players linked to the club, and I’ll stress that these are players linked, not guarantees. Nor is it likely they get them all. Just my thoughts on each player.

Tijjani Reijnders (26, Central Midfielder)

AC Milan 24/25 4,591 minutes 15G 5A

In his current form, he's one of the best midfielders in the world, not only for his technical skill or threat in the box but for the variety of roles he can play in the midfield. Capable as a deep-lying playmaker, number ten, and as a box-to-box midfielder. If Manchester City wants a player to come in and right away deliver on what Gundogan was at his best, then Reijnders is the player to go get.

The quality of his passes, intelligent ball distribution, and willingness to play incisive through passes make him a creative player in midfield. The close control and dribbling ability to move through tight spaces centrally, as well as to progress his team through the thirds.

Low volume when it comes to defensive actions, more so a player who pounces on loose touches and is more proactive in making interceptions than he is in making tackles. Has the physical frame to compete. Second ball winner. He times his jumps well to close off passing lanes. Recovers the ball a lot this way.

At Milan, he plays alongside Fofana, with the freedom to move forward. Excellent at finding pockets of space off the ball to receive in dangerous positions. Contributes key passes to teammates moving from the wing into the box or making runs from behind into the box. He can provide the kind of through balls between the lines to Haaland, for example. Uses 1- 2s to escape pressure in midfield. Can carry the ball through the thirds in midfield. Shooting threat on the edge/top of the box, makes the right runs on/off the ball into the box from midfield.

Here is his shot map from this season in Serie A. Everything Gundogan could provide with late runs into the box, you’re getting with Reijnders. Supporting runs in transitions and late box arrivals. Finding pockets of space for a cutback, attacking the near-post space for wingers to pass inside.

Rayan Aït-Nouri (23, Left-back)

Wolves 24/25 3,407 minutes 5G 7A

With a contract until 2026 and recently changing agents, it seems that a move was on the cards for Ait-Nouri this summer. The most technical left-back in the Premier League, comfortable moving inside with the ball as he dribbles to the byline, wriggling out of pressure. The only defender with more assists than Ait-Nouri (7) in the Premier League this season is Antonee Robinson (10). Below are some of his assists, looking to whip crosses in from the left side of the box and play through balls inside.

Bringing in a left-back that’ll start right away, handling 3,000+ minutes will be needed if we want to see Josko Gvardiol play those types of minutes at LCB. Huge knock-on effect. It also gives Nico O’Reilly the cover to develop, get minutes, but not need to be the finished article right away.

Andrea Cambiaso (25) was linked to a January move, and since then, we’re yet to hear an update on the player. He’s a perfect fit for the team at left-back, just like Ait-Nouri, so maybe the fee Juventus want is putting City off, and he’s the second option.

Rayan Cherki (21, Attacking Midfielder)

Olympique Lyon 24/25 3,099 minutes 12G 20A

The French footballer, born in Lyon and with parents of Algerian descent, is a product of the Lyon youth academy. At the age of 15, he was playing with their reserve side in the 5th division of French football. By 2019, he's making his debut for the first team.

22/23, when he was 18, was the first breakthrough season, starting 21 matches in Ligue 1 and providing ten goal contributions (4G 6A). The next season wasn't the next step up, starting 19 matches and providing seven goal contributions for a team that spent the first half of that season in the relegation zone, a player who had to bear plenty of criticism despite being only 19. Taken out the team for the second half of the season, and you got some glimpses of Cherki finding his form, starting the last few matches.

24/25 has been Rayan Cherki putting it all together across a season for Lyon. Finishing the season by leading the league for assists (10), xA (11.7), passes into the penalty area (77), and shot-creating actions (146). He earned his first call-up to the French National Team for the Nations League Semi-Final match.

Two-footed attacking midfielder who is as comfortable out wide as he is in more advanced midfield positions. Slight preference for his left foot (56% of his passes). The best creative passer in Ligue 1 this season. Elite corner taker. Cherki can create with both feet and at any angle around the box.

Skilled manipulator of the ball, under pressure, in tight spaces, he'll find the separation needed to make a pass or dribble his way out. Flicks, ticks, and how well he disguises actions make him incredibly difficult to anticipate.

Good quality shooter, but does need to increase the volume and get into better positions. Something to watch if he moves to Manchester City. He's not proven to be an aggressive presser or duel winner, but he's shown, especially this season, to be versatile in pressing either central or wide areas. Recognising and waiting for triggers before pressing either in-to-out of, locking against the touch line or out-to-in.

If he were to move to Manchester City, then I'd expect giving him a role in the 1st line high up the pitch, simple triggers to read, supported by a right-back, is the best option. To play centrally, you need to be more aggressive and combative to win back the ball. Could in the future, but not right away IMO.

Ability on the ball, to bring the creativity every City fan is looking for, and at that reported price point, is a no-brainer. The step he's made in putting together a full season removes a lot of the concerns I had initially on his consistency.

I do think, after watching more of him, that the worries about his OOP work are overplayed. It's finding the right role in the high press. Guardiola is more than capable of finding that balance. It's the tenacity in the counterpress that you'd need to see more of from Cherki. The 'false winger' role seems the ovbious starting point. From there, it's down to him if he wants to move centrally as De Bruyne did.

Morgan Gibbs-White (25, Attacking Midfielder)

Nottingham Forest 24/25 3,142 minutes 7G 10A

There is a lot of talk about where Morgan Gibbs-White fits into it all, given the recent reports about Reijnders and Cherki. Which seems more based on fans being unsure that we sell enough players to make room. Instead, if we’re looking at the qualities he does have, then he’s on a separate list.

On the pitch, Morgan Gibbs-White covers a lot of ground and can contribute in several roles. He's not wanting to stay in the pockets, deep, or only pull out to one side of the pitch to be involved. Always pointing where he wants the pass, always pointing at where the teammate should pass to, and always scanning.

He's agile, running on the balls of his feet, ready to turn on the ball, spring into a press, or jump onto a loose pass. Against Manchester City, he's virtually playing as the six, covering space centrally as his teammates jump forward to press whilst in their low block. Has played more as a right winger who would support Chris Wood to win aerial duels and second balls as Forest went long. Has played in a midfield three deep in his half, looking to play the long passes himself.

MGW's versatility in midfield gives Nuno the options to change up his team this season, and it's MGW who he calls over when it's time to make a tweak mid-game.

Here are some of his assists from this season, able to deliver all sorts of passes at pace in transition. Something De Bruyne brought to the team. Has an excellent relationship with Chris Wood, assisting a majority of his goals. Gibbs-Whites not only spots the runs but plays the long raking passes over the top.

MGW is constantly alert to his defensive role and has the pace to get across when needed. Against Ipswich, Phillips passes between the lines to Hutchinson, taking out two Forest players, but Gibbs-White comes across, forcing him wide, winning the ball and then having the vision to spot the pass down the line to his winger. That's the balance you want to strike as an eight for Manchester City.

Moving through the middle on the ball, he can bounce from challenge to challenge, keeping the ball, and then make a forward pass to a teammate. Then he continues his run into the box, giving the winger an underlapping run.

For more on the player, check out this thread I did back in April, going into a lot of detail on why the signing makes sense and the qualities he’d bring.

Joan García (24, Goalkeeper)

Espanyol 24/25 3,420 minutes 8CS

The Spanish keeper is being chased by several clubs, and a decision is expected this week. Came through the youth academy at Espanyol and eventually made his way into the first team. Last season 14 starts in La Liga B, and this season starting all 38 La Liga matches for them.

Garcia kept eight clean sheets for Espanyol in La Liga this season, which gave them eight more points. They finished with 42 in 14th. Without those points, they’d have been 18th and relegated.

Diogo Costa (25) has captained Porto, four seasons at the club, with 120+ starts in the League for them, and played in the Champions League. He's experienced starting for the National team at International tournaments, alongside Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva. These are some of the lesser reasons why the signing is appealing. Especially coming into a young backline in the process of rebuilding.

It seems that these are the two options that the club has identified for the position, two that blend shot-stopping and distribution. They must be done before the CWC to settle into the team early among a backline that will see several changes this summer.

Both goalkeepers were discussed on a previous Hub podcast, which you can find linked here.