Manchester United allegedly aim to beat Liverpool to the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Manchester United are reportedly determined to win the race to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.
The 23-year-old made the move to Wolves from Angers in 2020, initially on loan, and he has represented the English club on 126 occasions in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and registering 10 assists in the process.
Ait-Nouri’s form this season has been particularly eye-catching, scoring three goals and registering two assists in nine Premier League appearances, and a number of clubs are believed to be tracking him.
Liverpool are said to be huge admirers of the Algeria international, but according to GIVEMESPORT, Man United are firmly in the picture, and Ait-Nouri could potentially become the first signing of Ruben Amorim‘s reign as head coach.
The report claims that Amorim agrees with Man United chiefs that a new left-back is a priority due to Luke Shaw‘s ongoing fitness problems, with the defender yet to make a single appearance this season.
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Man United ‘determined to win the race for Ait-Nouri’
Shaw featured for England at Euro 2024, but he has not played for Man United since the middle of February, and Erik ten Hag said in his final press conference as Man United manager that the 29-year-old was still not close to returning.
Tyrell Malacia is now back in training, but the Netherlands international has not played since the 2022-23 season due to a serious knee injury, and there are also concerns surrounding his long-term fitness.
Amorim, who will officially start work at Old Trafford on November 11, is expected to be implement his preferred 3-4-3 formation at Man United, which will require a specialist left-sided wing-back being signed, and Ait-Nouri is believed to be the preferred choice.
Wolves will be desperate to keep hold of one of their best players, but his contract at Molineux is due to expire in June 2026, albeit with the club having the option to activate a one-year extension.
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Is a January deal for Ait-Nouri possible?
Man United will allegedly only have a limited budget during the January transfer window due to their summer spending.
Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte all arrived in the last transfer market, with Ten Hag once again being backed, but the Dutchman was sacked earlier this week.
Mid-season deals are not impossible, but it is very difficult to imagine Wolves allowing Ait-Nouri to leave in the winter unless a substantial offer arrives, and Man United will not be in a position to pay a huge fee in January.
As a result, the 20-time English champions will seemingly have to wait until next summer to boost their squad, and a new left-back has to be a priority for the club due to their ongoing issues in that area of the field.