Intermediaries have contacted Manchester United to alert them over the possibility of signing 25-year-old Manchester City wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri in January.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Rayan Ait-Nouri is also the subject of interest from Everton. The Toffees are eager to reinforce their defensive unit by signing a left-back in the winter transfer window, and they have set their sights on the 25-year-old Manchester City wide player.
Per TEAMtalk, Hugo Viana is working on an exit plan for Ait-Nouri, with intermediaries holding talks with Manchester United over a possible January move. The report adds that Manchester City will demand around £30 million to part ways with the former Wolverhampton Wanderers wing-back.
Rayan Ait-Nouri and his situation
Rayan Ait-Nouri has experienced mixed fortunes since joining Manchester City from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth £31 million in June 2025. While the 25-year-old began his stint at the Etihad as the first-choice left-back, an untimely ankle issue hampered his stock, as he became Nico O’Reilly’s deputy after returning from his injury.
The Algerian international has managed only 2,058 minutes of game time in 35 appearances for Manchester City, chipping in with nine assists. The issues have compounded this term, as Ait-Nouri has featured only four times thus far and has yet to appear in the Premier League under Enzo Maresca. Despite his irregular involvement, his popularity in the market remains unaffected, with several clubs in contention for a deal.
Move across the Premier League on the cards?
Rayan Ait-Nouri has been on Manchester United’s wishlist since his days at Wolverhampton Wanderers. The possibility of seeking a deal for the Manchester City wide player is logical, as Luke Shaw is the only recognised left-back in Michael Carrick’s squad. With Patrick Dorgu transitioning into a winger, Manchester United must sign a left-back to be Shaw’s alternative, considering the Englishman’s concerning injury track record.
As for Everton, Vitaliy Mykolenko is the only recognised left-back in David Moyes’s squad, compelling the manager to seek a solution from the market heading into the January transfer window. Ait-Nouri is thus an option worth considering, with his attack-minded profile making him the stylistic alternative to the more defensively-adept Mykolenko.
Manchester City’s readiness to sell Ait-Nouri, that too for a cost-effective price of £30 million, provides his prospective suitors the opportunity to seamlessly seal a January deal. With Nico O’Reilly and Josko Gvardiol being the two options for the left-back berth at the Etihad, it is clear that the Algerian international has no future at Manchester City, with a move across the Premier League now possible.