Man City chasing three deals before deadline including forgotten Chelsea player
Manchester City are pushing to get transfers done before the deadline on Tuesday evening because Pep Guardiola wants new signings to feature at the Club World Cup
Manchester City are wasting no time in getting deals done in the transfer window and could wrap up three before the first summer deadline. The first window of the Club World Cup-altered schedule for this year closes at 7pm BST on Tuesday evening and City are racing to get transfers completed.
Pep Guardiola’s side have already got one deal done, having announced the signing of Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri on Monday for £36million. The 23-year-old Algerian left-back has signed a five-year deal with City and will be able to play in the Club World Cup, which starts on Saturday.
City are now racing to conclude three other deals ahead of their first match at the inaugural summer tournament, against Wydad AC in Philadelphia next Wednesday. Guardiola is plotting a major overhaul of his squad after signing a two-year contract extension earlier this year and the club are matching his ambitions.
City are hopeful of wrapping up deals for Lyon star Rayan Cherki and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Chelsea goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli before the close of play on Tuesday.
READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea deal OFF, Man Utd chase Gyokeres, Arsenal agreement, Liverpool latestREAD MORE: Rayan Ait-Nouri completes transfer as Manchester City beat deadline to sign Wolves star
Guardiola wants Cherki available to feature in the United States next week and has pushed for the £34m transfer to get done. Cherki enjoyed an eye-catching 2024/25 campaign for Lyon, grabbing 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 appearances, and has been promoted to the France senior side.
He made his debut as a substitute on Thursday, scoring in the 5-4 Nations League defeat to Spain and is now hoping to get his transfer signed off. The 21-year-old attacker will be joined at the Etihad Stadium next season by Netherlands international Reijnders.
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City have already agreed a £45m transfer fee with Milan for Reijnders, who will put pen to paper on a five-year deal worth £200,000 per week. The 26-year-old was the star player for Milan during a poor campaign and is leaving Serie A two years after joining the club from AZ Alkmaar in his home country.
Meanwhile, Bettinelli is being signed as a replacement for veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson, who has left City after six years with the club. The 39-year-old only played twice for Guardiola’s side but was a much-loved member of the squad.
Bettinelli, 33, has been with Chelsea since 2021 but will swap sides a year before the end of his Blues contract. He has performed a similar role to Carson’s, having played just once at Chelsea – a 5-1 FA Cup third-round win over National League side Chesterfield in January 2022.
He will become the new third-choice keeper, behind long-term first-choice Ederson and backup Stefan Ortega. Chelsea, meanwhile, are in talks with Milan over the proposed signing of goalkeeper Mike Maignan, although negotiations have stalled over a transfer fee.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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