Manchester United looking to pip Arsenal to marauding full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri | OneFootball

Manchester United have been forced to play the majority of the current season without a specialist left-back due to multiple injuries suffered by their full-backs.

Tyrell Malacia has missed the entire season while Luke Shaw has been sidelined for a mammoth 36 games. Things got so bad at the start of the campaign that Sergio Reguilon arrived on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

He did not last long due to a combination of form and injuries and his short-term deal was terminated in January just when the England international was regaining fitness. That did not last long however.

Erik ten Hag was forced to play defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and centre-back Victor Lindelof in that position and both struggled, which was expected.

LB crisis at United

For the concluding stage of the campaign, the Dutchman has been forced to alternate between Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the left-back spot and that is expected to continue for the FA Cup final.

New co-owners INEOS have decided that this problem position needs a solution in the upcoming window and links have appeared with plenty of stars both in England and abroad.

One Premier League star that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is interested in is Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, who is a long-term target for Arsenal.

Teamtalk have relayed that both Manchester City and Chelsea have had a look at the Algerian with the Gunners eying him as a potential replacement for Oleksandr Zinchenko.

His experience in the English top-flight, his potential to grow and the resale value he has due to his age are all attractive attributes for the management.

INEOS looking at Ait-Nouri

Ten Hag loves his full-backs to maraud forward, something Wan-Bissaka has struggled to do. Ait-Nouri, however, is not afraid of the ball and has scored thrice this season while registering two assists.

He is versatile and can play further forward if required, another trait that is highly appreciated by United’s Dutch manager.

The 22-year-old is in the top one percent for successful take-ons completed among full-backs (as per fbref), highlighting his attacking nature.

Wolves had paid £10 million for the Algeria international after a successful loan from French club Angers and will be demanding £40 million for their full-back.

Whether United can afford to splurge such an amount on a left-back when they also need a centre-back, midfielder and forward remains to be seen.

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