Manchester City transfer target Yassine El Ghanassy: Ten things you need to know

1) Yassine El Ghanassy was born on the 12th July 1990 in the Belgian city of La Louviere, of both Moroccan and Belgian decent, his father Hajjaj El Ghanassy was a former professional player. As a youth player he was known to try and improve his skills by playing street football.

2) El Ghanassy started playing for his local team R.A.A Louvieroise in 1998, where he stayed for ten years. He then signed for Belgian Pro League side K.A.A Gent. Playing as a winger, he favours the left over the right side. A highly-skilled assist-making machine, his breakthrough into the first team came in 2009 after Bryan Ruiz transfered to FC Twente.

3) Internationally, El Ghanassy has recently opted to play with Belgium, though in the past he has represented Morocco. Between 2004-2007 he played for the Belgium Under-20 team, making 18 appearances.

4) El Ghanassy will be making his debut for the Belgian Senior team in a friendly with Finland tonight (09/02/11). There are other young Belgian talents catching eye of managers around Europe at the moment, including Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Toby Alderweireld as well as standout players such as Everton's Marouane Fellaini, City's Vicent Kompany and Arsenal's injured defender Thomas Vermalen.

5) At 16-years-of-age El Ghanassy had a trial with Birmingham City FC. The winger impressed the blues, but the transfer was deemed too expensive for such a young player.

6) Last year Gent unexpectedly finished second in the Belgian Pro League and scooped the Belgian Cup, with an unfavoured team much of their success was put down to El Ghanassy's performances.

7) Gent were beaten by Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League qualifying rounds and then finished third in their Europa League group, behind Sporting Lisbon and Lille. El Ghanassy appeared in all of their European matches.

8) El Ghanassy has expressed his desire to move to a new club to experience Champions League football. Luckily for him there has been no shortage of top clubs enquiring. In December 2010, Celtic were thought to be expressing an interest as well as French clubs Lyon and Marseille. In the past AC Milan, Everton and Sunderland have all sighted the players potential.

9) Man City were reported to have made a transfer deadline bid for the player of £4million which was turned down, while Gent received a similar bid from Spanish side Villarreal. A summer move has been confirmed and though Man City deny a fee has been agreed, El Ghanassy said: “I think there is now an agreement with Manchester City for me to move in the summer. We will have to see if that works out.”

10) City manager Roberto Mancini was desperate to sign the player as a short-term replacement for the injured Adam Johnson with the player's future prospects also looking exciting, but Gent wanted to keep hold of him to help their bid for European qualification, as they currently sit third in the Belgian Pro League table.