It looks as though Rayan Ait-Nouri will soon be leaving Wolves.
The Algeria international was always someone who was a potential outgoing this summer, having been at the club for four years now.
He’s just finished another strong campaign for Wolves, and potentially, his value may not go much higher than it currently is.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Over the last couple of days, speculation has been increasing about the wing-back, and Manchester City apparently feel confident of securing a deal for Ait-Nouri.
City have liked Ait-Nouri for a long time, and they will attempt to sign him before they get their Club World Cup campaign underway.
Ait-Nouri has reportedly already given the move the green light.
But no agreement has actually been reached between City and Wolves – and there’s potential here for Pereira to try to do something quite smart.
Vitor Pereira and Wolves should look to use Rayan Ait-Nouri to land James McAtee
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Wolves sold Matheus Cunha to Manchester United earlier this week.
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It was a move that had been long expected, and Wolves now face the unenviable task of trying to replace the maverick Brazilian.
Wolves apparently want two number 10s this summer, so it will be interesting to see who comes in.
Wolves reportedly have interest in James McAtee, who of course, plays for Manchester City.
So it may well be that Wolves can see about potentially doing some kind of swap deal involving him and Ait-Nouri.
Ait-Nouri has a higher market value than the Englishman, so it would be a case of Wolves receiving cash plus McAtee in exchange for the Algerian.
If Wolves managed to pull that off, they would then have a number 10 to play in Cunha’s position, and Pereira can then bring back Hugo Bueno, who is primed and ready to succeed Ait-Nouri.
Wolves and Man City have a good relationship
This could be a little complicated, because Wolves do have that Ait-Nouri 50% sell-on clause to think about.
And it would also obviously depend on McAtee being open to it, and there haven’t been any suggestions so far that he is.
But it should perhaps come as no surprise if Wolves looked to work something out.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Wolves and City have previously done business together before, with Matheus Nunes joining them in 2023 for around £53 million.
Tommy Doyle joined Wolves on an initial loan basis from City, and turned that move permanent the following summer.