Manchester City face battle to keep Rayan Ait-Nouri amid Premier League interest

Manchester City could lose Rayan Ait-Nouri in the winter transfer window, with several Premier League clubs monitoring the Algeria international.

The 25-year-old left-back has struggled for regular football since joining City from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2025 in a deal worth an initial £31.8m.

Ait-Nouri made an encouraging start under Pep Guardiola, impressing during the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States and in the early stages of the 2025/26 season. However, his opportunities were reduced by the emergence of Nico O’Reilly at left-back.

O’Reilly went on to enjoy an outstanding campaign in the position, becoming an important member of Thomas Tuchel’s England side and winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award at the end of the 2025/26 season.

Some Manchester City supporters had expected the arrival of Enzo Maresca to give Ait-Nouri the chance to revive his career at the Etihad Stadium. Instead, the defender has continued to find his route into the side blocked, with Josko Gvardiol and O’Reilly both ahead of him in the left-back pecking order.

His lack of playing time has prompted questions over his future, particularly after he considered leaving the club during the final days and weeks of the summer transfer window.

According to Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany, Ait-Nouri is “a player to watch” ahead of the next winter market and is “open” to leaving Manchester City.

Manchester United are reported to be interested in signing their local rivals’ player. The potential deal is understood not to present any difficulties over personal terms.

The main complication, however, would be the relationship between the two Manchester clubs, which has been described as the “main obstacle” to any transfer involving the Algeria defender.

Ait-Nouri’s reduced role has intensified speculation about a possible departure. He has frequently been left out of matchday squads this season and has made only four appearances.

Those outings came in the third and fourth rounds of the Carabao Cup and in two UEFA Champions League matches. Despite his limited involvement, he has provided three assists for Maresca’s side while being used at both left-back and left wing.

His only start came in a 5-0 Carabao Cup victory over Norwich City. He then appeared as a substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion in the following round, before coming off the bench against FC Porto and AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League.

With Manchester City relying on other options in his preferred position, Ait-Nouri’s future is now set to be one of the issues to monitor when the winter transfer window opens.