Manchester United are keen on signing Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri, who is open to crossing the divide in January. The Algeria international, 25, has made only four appearances for City this season, none of them in the Premier League.
Ait-Nouri was signed from Wolves in 2025 for an initial £31 million, with the hope that he would be City's long-term solution at left-back. But he is now keen to leave the Etihad Stadium just months after United failed in a shock move for him on deadline day in September.
Rivalry as a stumbling block
Sky Germany report that United are willing to reignite their interest and that personal terms would not be an issue. The stumbling block, however, is the bitter rivalry between City and United.
The two clubs have rarely engaged in business down the years, and the last senior player to move between them was Owen Hargreaves in 2011, after his contract with United had expired.
Defensive woes at Old Trafford
The Red Devils wanted to sign Ait-Nouri during the summer transfer window as backup for Luke Shaw. United's first-choice left-back is currently out injured, and his absence has exposed a glaring weakness in Michael Carrick's squad.
Diogo Dalot and Ayden Heaven have filled in at left-back during United's run of nine games without a win. Ait-Nouri, meanwhile, has largely had to watch City's good start under new manager Enzo Maresca from the bench.
His only 90 minutes so far came against Norwich in the third round of the Carabao Cup, where he provided two assists in City's 5-0 victory. Ait-Nouri's lack of action has also seen him lose his starting place for Algeria, with Brighton's Jaouen Hadjam getting the nod at left-back during the last international window.
Maresca's view on Ait-Nouri
Last week, Maresca was asked about the 25-year-old's struggle for minutes at City and whether he could be used in midfield. "He's a clear full-back," the City boss replied. "In that position, we have Josko [Gvardiol], who is doing fantastic, we have Nico [O'Reilly], who when he is fit is doing fantastic, and he's the same position so it's just competition between them."
Ait-Nouri will be hoping to feature in City's Champions League fixture away to RB Leipzig on Wednesday, having been named in their 23-man travelling squad. City then make the journey to Nottingham Forest this Sunday.
