Rayan Ait-Nouri (Image credit: Google)
According to FootMercato (h/t Daily Star), Manchester United are in talks to sign Angers starlet Rayan Ait-Nouri ahead of next season.
Ait-Nouri, 19, spent time at the academy of Paris FC before joining Angers’ youth system and was promoted to the senior squad in the summer of 2018. He made his Ligue 1 debut against Paris Saint-Germain last season but he struggled for game time.
However, this season, he began to start regularly but fractured his jaw midway through the campaign and couldn’t finish the season. However, he showed immense potential in the game he played before being put on the sidelines.
The youngster has also been a regular member of the French U21 squad and his impressive performances have also attracted the attention of Manchester City, who are also keen to secure his services, as per the report.
At the moment, United have several youngsters in their squad, who have shown great character and are capable of taking the team to the next level in the future. However, at left-back, Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams are the only two available. Shaw has done well so far and his absence in the last few games saw United lack the intensity on the left side of the pitch.
Williams’ rise to the top has been outstanding. He has done a decent job whenever called upon. However, Shaw has struggled with injuries for a long time and his fitness has been a major concern. In his absence, Williams seems to be the only player. Thus, bringing in a left-back could help them increase the competition within the squad.
In that regard, making a move for Ait-Nouri seems to be a smart one. In the 17 games he featured this season, the teenager managed to provide three assists. He has been brilliant so far and could only get better under the right guidance.
With experience, the French starlet could only improve himself and he could bring in healthy competition to Williams in the future. At the same time, United could do go with three left-backs for a few years.
Though United have two good left-backs, investing in Ait-Nouri for the future would definitely help them reap the rewards if he is able to grow into a Premier League material. Thus, they should manage to lure the teenager to Old Trafford at the earliest.