Manchester United Make Unexpected Late Bid for Manchester City Defender Rayan Ait-Nouri

Manchester United have made a surprising late attempt to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri, the left-back currently with cross-town rivals Manchester City. This move comes as a response to the defensive challenges faced by Michael Carrick’s team, hoping to strengthen their squad before the transfer window closes.

A Bold Cross-City Pursuit

According to talkSPORT, the Red Devils have officially shown interest in Ait-Nouri, who has not seen much playing time under Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium. At 25 years old, the Algerian international could get a fresh start at Old Trafford, where Carrick is looking to fix his left-back issues ahead of the deadline.

Transfers between these two clubs are rare, but Ait-Nouri’s limited minutes have created a chance that Manchester United want to seize. Despite this, sources from Manchester City remain cautious about any possible deal, with the reigning Premier League champions holding firm and unlikely to make a last-minute agreement.

Defensive Reinforcements Needed

United’s search for a specialist left-back has been difficult all summer. They chased several big names across Europe but failed to secure their top targets. One notable pursuit was for Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall, but talks did not advance enough to finalize anything.

Even with this late push, Carrick has expressed confidence in his squad publicly. Yet the sudden interest in a player from Manchester City suggests he still sees room for improvement on the left side of defense.

Ait-Nouri’s Struggles at City

For Ait-Nouri, switching to the red half of Manchester could revive a career that has stalled since his £32 million transfer from Molineux last summer. An early ankle injury interrupted his first-team chances, and his mid-season departure to play for Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations further limited his appearances.

With new coach Enzo Maresca favoring other players like Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis, and Nico O’Reilly, Ait-Nouri has barely featured. He remained an unused substitute during City's initial Premier League wins over Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, casting doubt on his future at the club.

Final Hours of the Transfer Window

As the deadline approaches, United are racing against time to see if Manchester City might soften their position. The Red Devils also looked at Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde but lost out when the Spaniard chose to stay and compete for his spot.

Manchester City may hesitate to strengthen a direct rival with a player who only made 17 league appearances last season and isn't part of their immediate plans. Still, Manchester United are prepared to make a bold move before the window shuts.

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