Wolverhampton Wanderers are now set to say goodbye to Rayan Ait-Nouri as Manchester City are reportedly closing in £33.7m deal to sign the player.
The Algerian defender has been with Wolves since 2020, but after five seasons at Molineux, now is the time to cash in.
This follows on from Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha, bringing in £62.5m for Vitor Pereira to use this summer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Rayan Ait-Nouri
Cunha will be missed, no doubt about that, but Ait-Nouri has been one of the best players for Wolves in the Premier League over the previous few years.
Rayan Ait-Nouri's record at Wolves
Last season, the defender enjoyed his most productive season with regards to attacking output since he joined Wolves.
Across 41 matches, Ait-Nouri scored five times while registering seven assists for the club. He also created eight big chances in the Premier League for the Old Gold, while averaging 1.3 key passes and succeeding with 1.7 dribbles per game last term.
The onus for Pereira now is to find a player who can be signed cheaply that will go on to replicate the success that Ait-Nouri has at the club.
Rayan Ait-Nouri's Wolves statistics
Season
2024/25
2023/24
2022/23
2021/22
2020/21
Via Transfermarkt
He will have money to spend. That’s a certainty. Could he sign a player from his homeland this summer who might be an even bigger talent than Ait-Nouri?
Wolves eyeing move for Roger Fernandes
Journalist Graeme Bailey stated recently that Wolves are keeping tabs on Braga’s Roger Fernandes ahead of making a potential swoop.
“I think the Portuguese league will be somewhere that they explore; it wouldn’t surprise me if they do look towards that league again,” said Bailey*.*
“I’ve heard Roger Fernandes’ name linked to Wolves in recent weeks as well, wouldn’t surprise me if he was on the agenda.”
roger-fernandes-sc-braga
Despite typically operating as a right-winger, Fernandes can also play either left-back or left wing-back, positions that Ait-Nouri made his own at Wolves.
Quite how highly-rated the 19-year-old is evident by the fact that he even made his debut aged just 15 years and eight months for Braga back in August 2021 - a record in Portugal's top-flight. Ait-Nouri, by contrast, was 17 when he made his first senior bow for Angers in August 2018.
Last season, meanwhile, Fernandes made 48 appearances across all competitions for the Portuguese side, scoring five goals and chipping in with seven assists.
For context, Ait-Nouri's final season in France saw him register just three assists in 17 games in Ligue 1, before joining Wolves at the age of 19.
roger-fernandes-braga-primeira-liga
Fernandes shone at both ends of the pitch. Not only did he create six big chances while averaging 1.3 key passes per game, but the youngster also won over 50% of his contested duels while averaging 1.5 tackles per match for Braga.
Last summer, talent scout Jacek Kulig praised the teenager, describing him as "Braga's biggest jewel" and "one of the most exciting U19s in Portugal.”
It would certainly be a significant coup should Pereira land the winger this summer, especially given his high ceiling for development.
Wolves might only have to pay a fee of around £25m to secure his services. With the club raising nearly £90m by selling Cunha and Ait-Nouri, it could prove to be a wonderful bargain this summer.
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