Reports claim that Stade Rennais and Manchester City have agreed the terms of a €65 million deal that will see 21-year-old winger Jeremy Doku make the switch from Roazhon Park to the Etihad.
Doku will come in as a direct replacement for Riyad Mahrez, who left the Premier League reigning champions in July for Al-Ahli Saudi in the Saudi Pro League. The 32-year-old was with Manchester City between 2018 and 2023 and was pivotal to a number of league titles, domestic cups and also the UEFA Champions League which was his crowning glory from his time in Europe.
Starry-eyed Jeremy Doku is his younger like-for-like replacement who is set to sign a long-term deal at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola will be licking his lips at the prospect of shaping the Belgian into a player as dangerous as the Algeria national team captain was for Man City.
Doku will be City’s third summer signing after Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol. His arrival speaks to the intentionality of Manchester City’s transfer business.
Kovacic came in as a replacement for former captain Ilkay Gundogan. Josko Gvardiol comes in to replace Aymeric Laporte, who was confirmed to be on his way to join Mahrez in Saudi Arabia over the weekend. Doku now comes in to replace another exit from the club and restore the balance that Pep Guardiola has worked so hard to build.
Doku is already a full international with Belgium, having represented them at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He will bring his experience playing on the global stages to City, who, through Pep Guardiola, will make him a world beater according to many pundits and fans who have followed the youngster’s progress since his days at RSC Anderlecht.
Doku will travel to Manchester in the coming days for his medicals and his signing is set to be announced before City face off against Sheffield United on 27 August.
With Doku’s signing done, Manchester City will turn their attention to signing a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne. Against Burnley on opening day, the Belgian midfielder aggravated a hamstring issue he has been battling with since the end of last season.
Lucas Paquetá was their main choice but after the Premier League launched an investigation into some gambling related offences linked to the Brazil international, the Cityzens have suspended their pursuit of the player.
They will continue their search for a replacement in the summer market which closes on 1 September.
