Man United offered the chance to sign Man City star in January

Man United offered the chance to sign Man City star in January Manchester United Revisit Rayan Ait-Nouri Move as Man City Push for January Exit Manchester United are back in the frame for Rayan Ait-Nouri, with Manchester City actively working towards a January solution for the left-back’s future. According to TeamTalk , intermediaries have already reopened conversations after an initial attempt to place the player at Old Trafford late in the last window. Ait-Nouri’s situation has become increasingly clear. Since joining City from Wolves in 2025, the Algeria international has struggled to establish himself, and that picture has hardened under Enzo Maresca. The 25-year-old has yet to feature in the Premier League this season, a detail that speaks loudly when assessing the club’s thinking and the player’s likely direction of travel. Rayan Ait-Nouri edging towards January transfer City’s internal stance appears settled. Hugo Viana is understood to be shaping an exit plan before the January market opens, with the objective of bringing certainty to a squad role that Maresca does not currently see as central. The manager’s public comments on the player earlier this month left little room for ambiguity. “He’s a clear full-back. 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,” Maresca said. That quote matters because it effectively placed Ait-Nouri behind two alternatives in the pecking order, while also confirming the shape of the challenge he faces. Once a manager lays out the hierarchy so plainly, clubs across the market tend to recognise an opportunity. In this case, United are among those paying close attention. Photo @ManCity on X Manchester United interest revived after deadline-day contact United were offered the chance to sign Ait-Nouri on deadline day and did consider the possibility, but the deal did not come together in time. The latest development is that communication channels are open again, with intermediaries sounding out whether an agreement can be found in the New Year. The player is understood to be open to the move, which is significant given the rarity of direct business between the Manchester rivals. Any transfer from City to United would attract immediate attention, yet this appears to be a football decision born from minutes, opportunity and squad planning rather than symbolism. From United’s point of view, there is logic in revisiting a player they already assessed. Ait-Nouri has proven Premier League experience, he knows the demands of the division, and he offers a profile that can help in wide areas if deployed with clarity and confidence. The question is whether United see this as a market opportunity too good to ignore, or whether they will prioritise other positions once January planning is finalised. £30m valuation gives deal structure fresh importance City are believed to want around £30m for Ait-Nouri, although the mechanics of any agreement are still being explored. A straight sale is one route, but there is also willingness to sanction a loan if it includes conditions that can convert the move into a permanent transfer. Specifically, City would want “a clause that could turn the move into a permanent deal if the defender reaches an agreed number of appearances”. That sort of structure may appeal to suitors who want a lower initial outlay while retaining the chance to make the move permanent after a period of assessment. It also protects City’s position, especially if they believe the player’s value can still be recovered despite his limited role under Maresca. Everton are also interested, although their route is complicated by loan regulations and their separate situation involving Jack Grealish. Beyond England, clubs in Italy, Spain and Germany are part of the wider conversation, which means United are far from alone in monitoring developments. January window could offer Manchester United a practical solution The central point in all of this is timing. City want Ait-Nouri’s future sorted before the window opens, and that urgency tends to accelerate decision-making. For United, that can create leverage if they move decisively and settle on a preferred structure early. Ait-Nouri arrived at the Etihad with a strong reputation and substantial top-flight experience, but he has not translated that into a regular role. TeamTalk reports that his “lack of opportunities at City has created a situation in which a departure is increasingly likely”, and that assessment aligns with the public evidence around selection and squad status. If United believe they can unlock the level Ait-Nouri showed at Wolves, this becomes a meaningful option rather than a speculative one. The coming weeks will determine whether interest becomes negotiation, and whether one of January’s more eye-catching domestic deals gathers real pace. Our View This feels like the sort of move worth serious consideration. Ait-Nouri is at an age where he should be entering his prime, and the idea that he still has something to prove after a difficult spell at City could work in United’s favour. There is enough Premier League evidence there already to believe he can thrive in the right system, and that matters in a winter window where adaptation time is always limited. The £30m figure is not insignificant, but it is far from outrageous in the current market if the recruitment team genuinely believes the player suits the long-term plan. A loan with an obligation or appearance-based trigger sounds even more attractive because it reduces the immediate risk while still giving United a chance to secure a player with quality and experience. There is also a broader point here. United need smart deals, not just expensive ones. If a player has been squeezed out by competition rather than exposed by lack of ability, that can be the right profile to target. The key is conviction. If the club liked him on deadline day, and if the situation is now more favourable, there is little value in hesitating. If the pathway is there, United should move early and give themselves the best chance of landing a player who could still prove a very useful addition.