Wolves asking price for Rayan Ait-Nouri revealed as Manchester City close in on transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City and Wolves will have to overcome a difference in valuations over Rayan Ait-Nouri in order to finalise a deal for the player, it has been revealed.

The Algeria international left-back has emerged as Manchester City’s priority in his position as Hugo Viana and Txiki Begiristain work together on bringing in a new generation and era within Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad.

Recruitment plans come off the back of the first season without a major trophy at the Etihad Stadium since Guardiola’s debut campaign at the club starting back in 2016, but did end in UEFA Champions League qualification and a third-place finish in the Premier League.

The club’s first major exit was confirmed ahead of the final few games of the campaign when it was announced that Kevin De Bruyne would not have his contract renewed beyond the end of June, allowing arguably the club’s greatest-ever player to leave on a free transfer.

And while much of the work in the transfer market so far has centred around midfield reinforcements, it seems as though Pep Guardiola may have his first natural left-back signing come through the doors since Benjamin Mendy in 2017.

According to The Telegraph’s Jason Burt, Wolves have already started their search for a new left-back in the expectation that Rayan Ait-Nouri will be sold to Manchester City this summer, despite a transfer fee still having not been agreed between the two clubs.

With the expectation that a transfer will go through, the report indicates that both clubs are happy with the negotiations that have taken place so far and Ait-Nouri himself is keen on the move which should be agreed in time for the FIFA Club World Cup.

Additional reporting from journalist Ben Jacobs reveals that Manchester City value the 23-year-old at around £30 million to £35 million, while Wolves are said to want a fee in excess of £40 million.

An interesting development on the side also reveals that the player’s former club Angers SCO have a 50 per cent sell-on clause on the defender, but Wolves bosses can buy that out for a fee in the region of £8.5 million.

The arrival of the Wolves defender will no doubt pave the way for Josko Gvardiol to move into his own natural position of central defence for the first time on a consistent basis since his transfer to the Etihad Stadium from RB Leipzig in 2023.

The Croatia international has often excelled when handed the left-back role over the last two seasons, and was given his first opportunity to shine in the middle of a defensive unit alongside Ruben Dias towards the end of the last campaign – a role he shone within.

Nico O’Reilly could also see his own position altered from next season after he produced outstanding showings in the left-back role during the tail-end of the campaign, with the Manchester City Academy graduate’s natural position being in the middle of the park.