Manchester City are moving forward in negotiations with Stade Rennais to sign Belgian winger Jeremy Doku in the remaining couple of weeks of the summer transfer window.
Reports suggest that Doku gave the ‘green light’ to Manchester City at the beginning of this month and now City are seeking to agree a deal with Rennes. It is believed that any fee for the 21 year-old would be a Rennes record sale and could be north of 50 million euros.
Doku joined Rennes in 2020 from Anderlecht and has become a key player for the French club as well as his national side, where he now has 16 caps. He has played in Rennes’ opening two Ligue 1 matches and scored in their opening day 5-1 demolition of Metz.
He would become Manchester City’s third signing of what has been a busy summer in terms of both ins and outs. Croatian duo Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol have signed from Chelsea and RB Leipzig respectively for a combined fee of over £100 million.
In terms of outgoings, both Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez have left for Barcelona and Al Hilal respectively, with rumours continuing to swirl around Bernardo Silva’s future and Cole Palmer, who is reportedly wanted by both Brighton and Hove Albion as well as West Ham United. Kyle Walker decided to stay despite strong interest from Bayern Munich but Aymeric Laporte is set to sign for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
It is expected that City will remain in the market for an attacking midfielder even if Doku remains. West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta was an option but for a variety of reasons it now appears that Dani Olmo of RB Leipzig is preferred and they are also keen in Boca Juniors left back Valentin Barco, who had been heavily linked with Brighton.
