Manchester City, the English champions, have set their sights on the young Belgian forward, Jeremy Doku, to fill the void left by Riyad Mahrez, who departed to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. Doku, a talented 21-year-old, currently plies his trade at Ligue 1 side Rennes, having previously made a move from Belgian club Anderlecht.

Fabrizio Romano, the well-known transfer expert, has revealed that Doku is among the players being considered to replace Mahrez at Manchester City. Another name on their radar is Crystal Palace’s rising star, Michael Olise, whose impressive performances in the last season have drawn attention from top clubs, including Chelsea. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive betting odds from Nextbet.

Doku’s arrival at Rennes in 2020 came with a significant price tag of €26 million, making him the club’s most expensive signing. During his debut season, the skillful winger showcased his ability by completing an impressive 110 dribbles, the highest for any player under 23 across Europe’s top five leagues. Additionally, he contributed two goals and three assists to the team’s cause.

However, the following 2021-22 season was challenging for Doku, as he grappled with injuries that limited him to just 18 appearances. Despite the setbacks, he managed to make four goal-scoring contributions for Rennes.

Throughout last season, the 21-year-old displayed his prowess, scoring seven goals in 36 appearances across various competitions, and providing five assists. His performances have not gone unnoticed on the international stage, having represented Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2022, as well as impressing spectators during the UEFA Euro 2020.

As for Riyad Mahrez, his departure from Manchester City marks the end of a fruitful spell in the Premier League. The Algerian forward, who secured four league titles with City, also added a prestigious Champions League trophy to his collection and clinched two FA Cups during his five-year tenure.

With the departure of key players like Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez, City manager Pep Guardiola is keen to bolster his squad. While Mateo Kovacic has been added to the midfield, Guardiola remains vigilant and will be on the lookout for additional talents before the transfer window closes.

Manchester City’s pursuit of Jeremy Doku showcases their ambition to maintain their winning ways. As they continue to build a formidable squad, Doku’s potential addition could prove to be a masterstroke, injecting fresh attacking prowess into an already dominant team. Only time will tell whether Doku will make the move to the Etihad Stadium and carve his name in the history of the English champions. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.