Man United make bonkers deadline day enquiry for Man City player

Manchester United have made an audacious deadline day enquiry for Manchester City left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, talkSPORT understands.

The Red Devils have been looking to strengthen at left-back all summer but to no avail, and they have now approached one of their biggest rivals just as the transfer window nears a close.

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It is understood that talks for Ait-Nouri to move across Manchester have only progressed as far as an enquiry.

Man City sources also believe that there will be no progress on a potential deal, with just hours to go until the transfer window’s 11pm deadline.

Ait-Nouri has struggled for minutes since completing a £32million move to the Etihad Stadium last summer.

The Algerian made just 17 Premier League appearances for the Citizens last term following his arrival from Wolves.

He is yet to feature at all for City this season, having been on the bench for all four of their opening games, with Josko Gvardiol, Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis all capable of playing in the left-back role.

Man United’s search for a left-back

With a shock switch to Old Trafford looking unlikely for Ait-Nouri, Man United will likely have to look elsewhere if they are to solve their left-back conundrum at the eleventh hour.

Luke Shaw is currently their only specialist in the position, and Michael Carrick‘s side have been unsuccessful in their attempts to land no.1 target in Newcastle’s Lewis Hall.

talkSPORT recently reported that United were interested in signing Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde as an alternative.

However, the two clubs have struggled to agree on a deal, with Barca slapping a €45million (£38.5m) asking price on the Spaniard, while the Red Devils would have preferred a loan move.

As well as Balde, United have also been credited with an interest in Fulham’s Antonee Robinson and RB Leipzig defender David Raum.

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Left-back has become a priority position for Man United this summer, with Shaw shouldering the responsibility in the role in the 2025/26 campaign.

But with Champions League football returning to Old Trafford this season, Michael Carrick will need a bigger squad to rotate.

The need to strengthen in this area was plain to see on Sunday, as Shaw struggled in United’s 5-2 win over Ipswich.

Although the Red Devils won comfortably in the end, they had a scare when Leif Davis put the Tractor Boys ahead after Abdul Fatawu picked up the ball on the right and drove past Shaw to tee up the opener.

The England defender’s fault in the goal drew criticism from talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, who labelled him ‘part of the problem’ in United’s backline.

Rayan Ait-Nouri’s career

Though a move looks highly unlikely, Ait-Nouri would certainly offer plenty of Premier League experience at Old Trafford.

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The 25-year-old broke into senior football with Angers in France, before signing with Wolves on an initial loan deal in 2020, before making the move permanent a year later.

He made 135 league appearances at Molineux before making the switch to the Etihad.

While he struggled for minutes at club level last season, he impressed at the World Cup, where he featured for Algeria as they reached the Round of 32 before being knocked out by Switzerland.

Despite being born in France, he has been capped 34 times by the North African nation.