Manchester United revisit move for Manchester City full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri

Rayan Ait-Nouri could leave Manchester City in January, with Manchester United among the clubs contacted about a possible deal for the Algeria international.

The 24-year-old has struggled for regular first-team football since joining City from Wolverhampton in 2025. He has not made a Premier League appearance this season and is behind Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly in the competition for the left-back position.

City’s sporting director Hugo Viana is working on a possible departure, with the club understood to be considering a fee of 30 million euros during the winter transfer window.

According to Teamtalk, Manchester United are one of the clubs to have been approached over a January transfer. The Red Devils explored the possibility of signing Ait-Nouri on the final day of the previous transfer window, although the two clubs were unable to reach an agreement.

Those discussions have since resumed, and Ait-Nouri is reportedly open to moving across Manchester. United manager Michael Carrick is looking for a solution to the club’s continuing problems at left-back.

Everton are also interested, while clubs in Italy, Spain and Germany are understood to be monitoring the situation.

Manchester City could consider a loan arrangement that includes either an obligation or an option to buy, with the eventual payment linked to the number of appearances Ait-Nouri makes.

United are seeking greater consistency and more depth at left-back, making the Algeria international an attractive possibility. His previous experience in the Premier League with Wolverhampton and City would mean he would not have to adjust to the demands of English football.

Ait-Nouri’s attacking qualities could also give Carrick another option on the left side. Although he has been left out of the Algeria squad, he is comfortable carrying the ball forward and contributing in the final third.

Those attributes could help United become more effective in wide areas, but a move would also carry some risk because of his limited playing time at City this season. United would first need to establish whether his lack of opportunities has been caused by competition for places or a decline in form.

A loan could provide a way for the club to assess whether Ait-Nouri is suited to United before committing to a permanent transfer. That option may be particularly useful if City are keen to sell and are willing to include an appearance-related clause in the agreement.