Several heavyweights, including Manchester City and Manchester United, are interested in a midfielder who is being compared to Yaya Toure. The Sky Blues have the edge in this thorny case.
Having arrived during the summer transfer window at Trabzonspor for €5.5m (£4.7m) from Sporting Club de Bastia, Christ Inao Oulai is already attracting all the interest. Formed at the JMG Academy in Abidjan, the midfielder has only played 18 encounters with the Corsican club in Ligue 2, but that was enough to catch the eye of the current second-placed Turkish league side.
Whilst it is Trabzonspor who secured the services of the 19-year-old young gem, other very prestigious clubs remain on the lookout. According to information from TEAMtalk, Manchester City, Manchester United but also Bayern Munich continue to monitor Christ Inao Oulai's performances. The British outlet moreover add that the greatest interest is on the Citizens' side and that a move during the winter transfer window cannot be ruled out.
🚨🇨🇮 Manchester City and several clubs are in the race for Christ Inao Oulai, the 19-year-old Ivorian midfielder shining at Trabzonspor.
The Turkish club won’t sell in January and want over €40M, but all signs point to a summer move.
[via @TEAMtalk] pic.twitter.com/5e20Efk9UG
— Sky Blues (@SkyBluesXtra) December 10, 2025
The new Yaya Toure found for £40m
At Manchester City, Christ Inao Oulai's potential has not gone unnoticed. Scouts compare him to Yaya Toure, illustrious Etihad Stadium legend. Whilst currently, the Ivory Coast international (two caps) is only valued at €4m (£3.4m) on Transfermarkt, it is estimated that his departure price could reach €40m (£34m). The English club even judge that he has the talent to become Ballon d'Or winner Rodri's successor.
Since the start of the season, Christ Inao Oulai has played nine encounters with Trabzonspor, each time as a starter. Complete in midfield, the former Bastia player has been called up by Emerse Fae to compete in AFCON in Morocco. He will have the opportunity to demonstrate the full extent of his talent during one of the world's most followed international competitions. No doubt Manchester City and other European heavyweights will observe the Elephants' matches with great attention.
This article was originally published on Top Mercato.
