Manchester City target Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White

Manchester City has entered the race to sign Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White this summer, as part of their squad overhaul.

The club aims to strengthen Pep Guardiola’s squad after a difficult season marked by injuries, fitness issues, and an aging roster that struggled across multiple competitions.

Manchester City has already faced the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, who has been confirmed as the first major exit this summer.

The Belgian midfielder’s contract will not be renewed beyond June, and it is believed he will join Serie A champions Napoli on a free transfer, leaving a significant creative void in City’s midfield.

In response, Manchester City has been exploring potential replacements for De Bruyne, initially showing interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.

However, concerns over escalating transfer fees have led City to withdraw from that pursuit. Instead, they are now focusing on other talents, including AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders, according to football journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Romano reports that City has formally joined the transfer race for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, viewing them as promising options to rebuild their midfield.

Cherki, who is 21, has already signaled his departure from Lyon, with a release clause in his contract believed to be between £20 million and £25 million, sparking considerable Premier League interest.

The move for Cherki and Gibbs-White underscores Manchester City’s commitment to refreshing their squad with young, talented players capable of making an immediate impact.