Rennes winger Jeremy Doku set to join Manchester City in £55.5m deal; the 21-year-old has completed his City medical; the Rennes winger and Belgium international is set to become Man City’s third summer signing of window
By Lyall Thomas, News Editor @SkySportsLyall
Jeremy Doku has completed his medical ahead of his £55.5m move from Rennes to Manchester City.
A formal announcement is expected soon.
The Belgium international had been linked with a number of Premier League teams this summer and is now set to join the champions.
Man City are looking for a winger to replace Riyad Mahrez, who left for Saudi Arabia in the wake of City’s treble-winning season.
Should Doku complete the move to the Etihad Stadium, he will become Pep Guardiola’s third summer recruit in this transfer window, after Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol.
Doku scored for Rennes in their opening Ligue 1 game against Metz, following on from the six league goals he netted last season.
Doku profile: What will he bring to Man City?
French football expert Tom Williams says Doku has ‘limitless potential’ and will bring something new to Manchester City
French football expert Tom Williams told Sky Sports:
“It is a lot of money for a young player who is still in the early stages of his career, but in terms of raw materials, you’ve got everything you could possibly want from an attacking player.
“Doku is absolutely rapid and beats players for fun. His stats in terms of goals and assists maybe aren’t where they could be but under a coach like Pep Guardiola you assume they will only get better. He has almost limitless potential.
“It’s a lot of money but you can understand why Manchester City feel he is the man to bring in.
“He’s a different kind of attacking player that Guardiola has at his disposal as he’s very quick and is a bit of a throwback winger. He can play on the left and on the right, where he is likely to feature more often for City.
“As a predominantly right-footed player he’s not someone who would then cut infield. He’s more about beating a full-back on the outside and getting to the byline to provide the cutbacks. He’d bring a pace, a directness and a dribbling ability that City don’t have in their squad currently.”
What does this mean for Cole Palmer?
Stay or go? A crucial few weeks lie ahead for Manchester City winger Cole Palmer, weeks that could define how far his blossoming career will go.
The 21-year-old has certainly showcased his talents in City blue this season, scoring his side’s goals in their Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup games this month.
Add in his role in helping England’s U21 side to a European Championship triumph earlier this summer and it’s clear Palmer has the winning touch about him.
But with both the player and manager Pep Guardiola casting doubts about the winger’s future, will that winning aura be with City, or another team?
After all, Palmer has played 10 minutes of Premier League football for City in their opening two matches of the current campaign.
There is no doubt in the player’s mind about what the ideal option is this summer: to stay put and play.
“Obviously the best scenario is to stay at City and play,” Palmer said after Man City’s Super Cup win. “But obviously you know what the competition is like, if they bring someone in…”
But now City look to turn to Doku – and with West Ham interested in the 21-year-old – is this the moment where Palmer turns round and says enough is enough?
Follow the summer transfer window with Sky Sports
Who will be on the move this summer ahead of the transfer window closing at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.
