The arrival of Rayan Ait-Nouri looks set to give Fantasy Premier League managers another appealing Manchester City option next season.
The Algerian was a key figure for Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, starting 37 out of their 38 Premier League matches.
Primarily playing as a left wing-back, he racked up four goals and seven assists for Vitor Pereira's side.
That total of 11 attacking returns, indeed, was more than any other FPL defender.
To underline his major all-round attacking threat, Ait-Nouri’s 31 shots in the box ranked third in his position in 2024/25, behind only Daniel Munoz and new team-mate Josko Gvardiol.
His creativity adds to his Fantasy appeal.
Ait-Nouri's 46 chances created placed him joint-fourth among Premier League defenders.
How Ait-Nouri ranked among PL defenders, 24/25
| Total | PL rank | |
| Shots | 36 | 7th |
|---|---|---|
| Shots in the box | 31 | 3rd |
| Penalty-area touches | 104 | =2nd |
| Chances created | 46 | =4th |
| Big chances created | 8 | =6th |
Ait-Nouri's style of play certainly looks tailor-made for the tactics of City manager Pep Guardiola.
A versatile, two-footed defender, he is equally comfortable playing as an overlapping full-back or "inverting" into central midfield, giving Guardiola plenty of tactical options.
Gvardiol's five league goals last season underscored how potent a City defender can be when handed a licence to attack.
The Croatia international finished as the top-scoring FPL defender with 153 points, while the volume of shots that Gvardiol registered hints that Ait-Nouri will continue to get chances, if he takes over the left-back role.
How Gvardiol ranked among PL defenders, 24/25
| Total | PL rank | |
| Shots | 40 | =2nd |
|---|---|---|
| Shots in the box | 34 | =1st |
| Big chances | 10 | 1st |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 4.59 | 2nd |
| Penalty-area touches | 104 | =2nd |
Guardiola's side served up six clean sheets over the last nine Gameweeks of 2024/25.
With Rodri now fit again to further protect the back four, a City defender will certainly be worthy of consideration in our Gameweek 1 squads.
If Ait-Nouri can nail down a regular starting spot, his potential for goals and assists means he could be THE standout option at the back.
Gvardiol's own appeal may be dented slightly if he is moved to centre-back to accommodate Ait-Nouri, of course.
During his last stint at centre-back, from Gameweeks 30-35, Gvardiol failed to register a single shot from open play.
