Man Utd will have to look elsewhere as Wolves shift close to an agreement with Man City.
Manchester City are reportedly pursuing a deal to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a blow to Manchester United.
City have been keeping close tabs on Ait-Nouri as a priority left-back target for some time and have now decided to go ahead with an official approach. Pep Guardiola has made signing a new left-sided defender a priority and could soon be satisfied as it appears Ait-Nouri is likely to join.
The Athletic reports City are yet to reach an agreement with Wolves or the player but have made Ait-Nouri their ‘top target’. It’s stated that all parties now ‘expect’ the move to happen, with the transfer now an inevitability.
Although a fee isn’t mentioned in The Athletic’s report, Wolves have been reported elsewhere to be seeking up to £45 million. That’s quite the hefty figure but Ait-Nouri has become one of Wanderers’ most important players and won’t be allowed to leave for below his valuation.
Wolves are under very little pressure to sell Ait-Nouri following the £62.5 million sale of Matheus Cunha to Man Utd. BBC Sport reporter Nick Mashiter has hammered home this point, writing: “Ait-Nouri is a huge asset for Wolves and there will be interest but the club will have planned for that, while they also want to offer the left-back a new contract.
“They are in a strong position with Ait-Nouri having two years left on his contract so will be able to demand a good fee. But Wolves have priorities elsewhere with captain Nelson Semedo out of contract and the need to replace Cunha.”
Signed from Angers in 2021 after an initial season-long loan spell, Ait-Nouri has racked up 157 appearances for Wolves, 135 of which have been in the Premier League. Last season was the Algeria international’s most productive as he scored four goals and provided seven assists in 37 league matches, adding a further goal in the FA Cup.
Wolves are expected to rake in a tidy profit on the £10 million they paid for Ait-Nouri but it won’t all be going straight into the pot as Angers hold a 50 per cent sell-on clause. Wanderers have the option buy out that clause for £9 million and they will likely do so as that would represent better value than simply allowing Angers to claim 50 per cent of the profit.
Man Utd miss out to bitter rivals
City steaming ahead to sign Ait-Nouri will disappoint Man Utd, who have recently shown a strong interest in signing the left-back. The Red Devils, out of Europe for the first time in a decade, were never realistically going to challenge City but there was always the chance Guardiola’s side would look elsewhere.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Pervis Estupiñan has been mentioned as an alternative to Ait-Nouri, but that appears to be merely speculation at this stage. United at least have many months ahead to ponder how best to approach the situation.
The same can be said for Wolves as they will need to sign a replacement for Ait-Nouri if he does leave. Rodrigo Gomes could perhaps take on the left wing-back role but it’s unlikely Vitor Pereira would be content with just one option in that position.
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