Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered a 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in Premier League Matchday 36, but head coach Vitor Pereira used the occasion to express his firm desire to retain Rayan Aït-Nouri beyond the current campaign.
Despite the loss at the Amex Stadium, Wolves remain in 14th place with 41 points and two games left to play, a position that all but guarantees their Premier League status for next season.
The match offered few positives for the Midlands club, but the performance of Aït-Nouri stood out.
Once again deployed on the left flank, the Algerian international was one of the more active figures in the Wolves lineup.
His efforts in tracking back defensively and supporting the attack drew praise, even though they did not influence the final result.
Brighton proved more clinical and capitalised during key phases of the game to secure the victory.
Before the match, Pereira spoke candidly about Aït-Nouri’s future at the club.
Addressing the media, the Portuguese coach made clear his intention to retain the 23-year-old.
“If you were in my shoes, would you want to keep him? Me too. He’s a very high-level player and we want to keep our best players,” Pereira said, underlining the full-back’s importance in his plans going forward.
Aït-Nouri, who made his move from Angers permanent in 2021, has featured in 38 matches across all competitions this season.
His contributions include five goals and seven assists, statistics that underscore his growing influence in both attacking and defensive phases of play.
Originally believed to be among the players likely to be sold in the upcoming transfer window, Aït-Nouri’s situation now appears less certain.
Pereira, who took over in December, is intent on avoiding wholesale changes to the squad and sees the Algerian defender as part of a core group essential to building continuity.
The club’s management is reportedly weighing the option of offering Aït-Nouri a new contract, not only as a reward for his performances but also to safeguard his market value.
Wolves already hold an option to extend his current deal by an additional year, giving them leverage as interest in the player continues to grow.
For now, Aït-Nouri remains a vital part of Wolves’ setup—and with Pereira at the helm, that seems unlikely to change anytime soon.
