Manchester City have reportedly stepped up their interest in Rennes winger Jeremy Doku.

The 21-year-old joined Les Rouge et Noirs from Anderlecht for an initial €26m (£22.2m) in the summer of 2020 and he has since developed into one of the brightest prospects in Ligue 1.

Doku has struggled with niggling injuries over the last two seasons and has subsequently been reduced to just 43 top-flight starts since the beginning of 2021-22.

Nevertheless, the 14-cap Belgium international has chipped in with 10 goals and 11 assists for Rennes in all competitions, including seven goals and four assists in 37 appearances last season.

Doku, primarily a right-winger, is understood to have caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Aston Villa, as well as Serie A duo Napoli and AC Milan.

However, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Man City have entered the race for his signature and the winger is considered a 'priority name' on Pep Guardiola's list of targets.

Meanwhile, a separate report from journalist Sacha Tavolieri claims that the Etihad Stadium is the 'most concrete' destination for Doku this summer, and the treble winners have intensified talks with the attacker.

Barcelona are also said to be keepings tabs on Doku, amid uncertainty over the future of Ousmane Dembele, but Man City are thought to be ahead of the Catalan giants as things stand, although they are yet to enter negotiations with Rennes.

The Citizens have identified Doku, who has two years remaining on his contract at Rennes, as a possible replacement for Riyad Mahrez who completed a permanent move to Al-Ahli last week.

Man City are now a man light in the attacking department and they could lose other first-team starters this summer, with Bernardo Silva and Cole Palmer among those who face an uncertain future at the club.

While Bernardo has been heavily linked with a permanent exit amid interest from Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Al-Hilal, Palmer has been tipped to depart on loan with Brighton & Hove Albion said to be at the front of the queue for his signature.

Doku is not the only attacker on Man City's radar, as they are understood to have joined Chelsea in the race to sign Crystal Palace's Michael Olise.

RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo is another name on City's shortlist, while a summer swoop for Barcelona winger Raphinha have also been mooted, although it is thought that the Brazilian has no interest in leaving Camp Nou. body check tags ::