Manchester United are working to strengthen their squad. The Red Devils have had a rough patch in the past few weeks. But they beat AS Roma to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Now, team manager Michael Carrick is working on recruiting fresh players for the team ahead of the January transfer window. The team is already looking out for quality attackers and capable goalkeepers. However, they haven’t neglected the defense either. This is why the Red Devils are monitoring the performance of Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri. Ait-Nouri is not too keen on remaining with the Sky Blues and is open to a transfer deal.
As per Goal.com, the Red Devils aim to address the lack of depth on their defensive flanks. Rayan Ait-Nouri seems to be the perfect fit for them. Some reports have also linked him to Juventus ahead of the January transfer window, although an official update is yet to be made.
Although he has been part of the Sky Blues since 2025, he has not received adequate opportunities in the Sky Blues’ camp under current manager Enzo Maresca. The 25-year-old left-back from France is not too keen on continuing with the Sky Blues either, and is willing to move out at the first opportunity available.
🚨 Manchester United are interested in signing Manchester City left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri in January. The 25-year-old is open to leaving City, and agreeing personal terms with United would not be an issue. The relationship between the Manchester clubs is the main obstacle, while Aït-Nouri’s market is being explored. (Source: @SkySportDE)
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) November 4, 2026
But what makes Ait-Nouri special for Manchester United? He is not just a traditional left-back. He believes in attacking first. He is equally capable of switching to the attacking flanks when needed. He can solve the left-back crisis that has been ailing the Red Devils for a long time. He also proved his mettle in the limited opportunities he received in the current season. Ait-Nouri scored 3 assists across multiple competitions in the 2026-27 season.
The only problem that could prevent a smooth transfer is the traditional rivalry between the two clubs. Even though Manchester City hasn’t been kind to Rayan Ait-Nouri in terms of opportunities, they wouldn’t like to give him up so easily, and of all places, to Manchester United. The Sky Blues have set a significant asking price of £30 million for the left-back. Interestingly, they had signed for a total amount of £36.3 million from the Wolverhampton Wanderers last year.
However, the Red Devils cannot afford to be complacent. They are in a bad position in the Premier League, having won only 1 out of 9 matches this season. They barely managed to keep their Champions League hopes alive with a slender victory over AS Roma a few days ago.
Team manager Michael Carrick knows very well that the team needs to bounce back quickly; otherwise, he is at risk of losing his job as the team manager by the end of this season. This is why the club is looking for reinforcements on every front possible. If they come up with an irresistible offer for Rayan Ait-Nouri, Manchester United could find a way back to the top.
