Manchester United are expected to strengthen their left-back options in the upcoming transfer window after struggling to find a reliable solution in that position.
According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, Rayan Ait-Nouri is open to leaving Manchester City, with Man United also interested in securing his signature.
Personal terms are unlikely to prove a stumbling block, but negotiations could be complicated by the fierce rivalry between the two Manchester clubs.
Ait-Nouri joined City from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2025 in a deal worth £36.3 million.
Man United must avoid signing Rayan Ait-Nouri
INEOS overlooked the need to recruit a specialist full-back last summer, but they cannot afford to repeat that mistake when the January window opens.
Luke Shaw is the only senior designated left-back in the squad and he has already missed half of the games this season due to injuries.
Head coach Michael Carrick has consequently been forced to improvise, using Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven as makeshift alternatives.
There is little doubt that United need a natural left-back, but Ait-Nouri should not be the answer to their recruitment problem.
The 25-year-old has yet to make a Premier League appearance this season, having managed fewer than 200 minutes across four matches in all competitions.
United previously rejected the opportunity to sign him on loan with an obligation to buy during the summer transfer window.
INEOS must stand by that decision rather than reconsider their position simply because the defender could become available again through his representatives.
United cannot afford to build their recruitment strategy around players who have fallen out of favour at their current clubs.
Instead, the club should be targeting elite players approaching or entering their prime, and have the ambition to prise them away from established rivals.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com