Manchester United plot surprise move for Manchester City star in January: Reports

Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a January move for Manchester City left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, with Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg naming the 25-year-old as a player to watch in the winter transfer window.

The Algeria international has not played a single Premier League minute this season. He has made four appearances in all competitions under Enzo Maresca, who took charge at the Etihad ahead of this campaign, and that has left him behind Josko Gvardiol and Nico O'Reilly in the pecking order at left-back. He joined from Wolves for around £30m in 2025 and is contracted to 2030.

The groundwork was laid in August, when Manchester United explored a deadline-day loan for Ait-Nouri with an obligation to buy after Newcastle refused to sell Lewis Hall. That move died at the deadline, and Hall signed a long-term deal at St James' Park in September.

Plettenberg's post on X on November 3 put Manchester United's interest in stronger terms:

“Rayan Aït-Nouri, one to watch in the winter transfer window. The 25 y/o left-back is open to leaving Manchester City. Understand Manchester United would like to sign him. Personal terms are not an issue. The main issue is the relationship between the two Manchester clubs. Aït-Nouri's market is currently being explored.”

TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey reported last week that City, through sporting director Hugo Viana, were working on an exit and would accept a loan with a clause turning permanent at an agreed number of appearances.

Why a left-back tops Manchester United's January list, and the other potential targets the club are looking at

The left-back problem is not new. Luke Shaw remains the only specialist in the role; injuries have forced Michael Carrick to use Diogo Dalot and Ayden Heaven out of position, and Patrick Dorgu has also been missing through injury.

Manchester United sit just above the relegation zone, which makes landing elite targets in a winter window harder, and Hall is off the list after committing to Newcastle.

Barcelona's Alejandro Balde is the other name on United's list. The LaLiga star has not had a lot of game time at the Catalan club, and is behind the likes of Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart in the pecking order.

Everton and Juventus are also tracking Ait-Nouri, and City's £30m valuation plus the politics of a cross-city deal remain the obvious hurdles. The Red Devils' sporting director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada both worked at the Etihad before moving to Old Trafford, making talks plausible.