Manchester United Target January Loan Move for Manchester City Defender
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The story in brief
13-second readManchester United are reportedly considering a January loan move for Manchester City left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, according to a report from Sport Witness, which cites Africa Foot. Ait-Nouri has made just three appearances for Manchester City this season, starting only in a Carabao Cup match against Norwich City.
Rumour · This claim is unconfirmed.
The full picture
Manchester United are reportedly considering a January loan move for Manchester City left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, according to a report from Sport Witness, which cites Africa Foot. Ait-Nouri has made just three appearances for Manchester City this season, starting only in a Carabao Cup match against Norwich City. The player's limited opportunities are attributed to his low priority under manager Enzo Maresca. Manchester United believe Ait-Nouri presents an 'interesting profile' due to his offensive qualities and Premier League experience.
Ait-Nouri's representatives reportedly offered him to Manchester United during the summer transfer window, but Manchester City were only willing to agree to a loan deal with an obligation to buy. The player has provided three assists in his three appearances this season, including substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League against FC Porto and AEK Athens. Despite limited playing time, Ait-Nouri is expected to feature in Manchester City's upcoming Carabao Cup or Premier League matches against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Manchester City's rotation policy under Enzo Maresca gives hope to players like Ait-Nouri, and he may start against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup or Premier League due to fitness issues with other players. Nico O'Reilly has had fitness problems, and resting Josko Gvardiol could create an opportunity for Ait-Nouri at left-back. Other players like Ryan McAidoo and Allan are competing for starts in wide-attack.
At a glance
- Reporting status
- Rumour
- Original publisher
- City Xtra | Manchester City News & More ↗
- Source published
- Clubs covered
- Manchester City, Manchester United
Unconfirmed or speculative wording in the source. Repeated coverage does not make it confirmed.
Source context
Since the start of the 2026/27 season and a fresh era under new manager Enzo Maresca, Rayan Ait-Nouri has managed to make just three appearances for Manchester City across competitions - starting just a Carabao Cup third round clash with Norwich City. Substitute appearances against FC Porto in Portugal and AEK Athens at home, both in the UEFA Champions League, have also accompanied the League Cup appearance, totalling three assists in those three outings. The latest struggles from Rayan Ait-Nouri follow difficulties under Pep Guardiola during the last campaign, with Nico O'Reilly and Josko Gvardiol placed ahead of the Algeria international in the left-back pecking order.
Source excerpt · City Xtra | Manchester City News & More
Read original report ↗Related reporting, in time order
2 reports grouped by topic; up to eight shown, newest first. Compare the original reports below; they may describe different developments or rely on the same information. Grouping does not establish confirmation.
City Xtra | Manchester City News & More · rumour · 2026-10-26 22:00 UTC
Manchester United Target January Loan Move for Manchester City Defender ↗
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The Cult of Calcio · rumour · 2026-10-25 12:45 UTC
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