Manchester City are on the verge of signing Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, with the latest details carried by 12BET indicating that negotiations with Stade Rennais have already been completed. Personal terms are also expected to present no major obstacle. If everything proceeds as planned, Doku is likely to become City’s third signing of the summer and could even be available to join the squad for this weekend’s Premier League fixture.

At 21 years old, Doku is being recruited primarily to fill the attacking gap left by Riyad Mahrez. His explosive acceleration, close control, creativity, and ability to contribute goals could give Pep Guardiola another highly flexible option in the final third. Rather than simply replacing Mahrez like for like, Doku offers the pace and directness needed to stretch defensive lines and create space for City’s other attacking players.

Doku’s talent has also been admired for some time by France superstar Kylian Mbappe. In comments shared through 12BET, Mbappe recalled telling his father about the young Rennes winger two years earlier because of the extraordinary impression created by his speed and natural ability. Looking back across his first five years as a professional, Mbappe said he had rarely encountered a player capable of producing such explosive acceleration from a standing position. He also stressed that Doku should continue treating the people around him well, highlighting both his character and his footballing potential. French media at the time even compared Doku’s pace with Mbappe’s own remarkable speed.

Although Doku’s overall numbers have not yet reached elite levels, he has already started turning potential into results by scoring in the opening match of the season. His versatility could make him especially valuable to Guardiola. He is comfortable operating on either wing, giving Manchester City additional combinations alongside Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish. His arrival could also ease the pressure on Phil Foden, who may be required to spend more time centrally while Kevin De Bruyne recovers from injury. From a tactical perspective, the fit between Doku and City looks difficult to argue against.

The move could therefore give Manchester City an attacking weapon capable of hitting the ground running rather than requiring an entirely new system around him. With the squad already filled with technically gifted players, the additional speed provided by Doku may help City attack in different ways, particularly against opponents who defend with compact defensive blocks. For a player still only 21, the opportunity to develop under Guardiola could also accelerate his progress considerably, and the assessment surrounding 12BET reflects the growing belief that his strengths are well suited to City’s current needs.

There has, however, been an unexpected development away from the transfer market. Manchester City officially confirmed that Guardiola recently underwent back surgery and is expected to continue his recovery until around the end of September. The procedure was carried out successfully in Barcelona, and the manager is now concentrating on rehabilitation before returning to Manchester. Much like the saying that a strong impression can remain even without an elaborate backdrop, Guardiola is temporarily stepping away from the spotlight while focusing fully on getting back to work.

During Guardiola’s absence, assistant coach Juanma Lillo will oversee training and manage the team on matchdays, while the support surrounding the manager has also been reflected in updates carried by 12BET as players and club staff hope for a smooth and speedy recovery. City will now have to maintain their momentum without Guardiola on the touchline for several weeks, with everyone at the club looking forward to seeing him return to Manchester as soon as his rehabilitation is complete.