Manchester City are set to enter the race to sign Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri this summer, according to TBRFootball.

The website claims that the Premier League champions have been “watching” the 22-year-old for well over a year, but they will face competition from rival Premier League clubs for his services.

Arsenal and Chelsea are also known to be keeping tabs on Ait-Nouri, with both teams looking to strengthen the left-hand side of defence in the next transfer window.

Ait-Nouri has been in very impressive form this season, leading to praise from his manager Gary O’Neil. Wolves are not in a rush to sell as the Algerian international has a contract at Molineux that still has two more years left to run, with his club also having an option to extend his stay for a further twelve months.

City are currently without a recognised left-back

Manager Pep Guardiola has been deploying centre-halves on the left flank this season. Both Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake have certainly shown their capabilities in the position but City are said to be keen on recruiting a specialist.

Ait-Nouri is the right age, and his ability to get forward means he should fit into Guardiola’s system without too much additional coaching required.

Shearer is a big fan of Ait-Nouri

When the defender made his debut for Wolves all the way back in 2020, Premier League legend Alan Shearer named him in his official PL Team of the Week. After Wolves 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, he said:

“What an amazing debut by the teenage Frenchman. It doesn’t get much better than marking your first match with a goal and a win. He was very impressive in his attacking down the left.”

Ait-Nouri has taken a while to find some consistency since that debut performance but he has impressed in recent months and it could lead him to making the switch to the Etihad.