Exclusive via Graeme Bailey
Arsenal and Manchester City are both battling for the Premier League title at the moment, and, heading into the summer transfer window they may also do battle over a potential signing.
Indeed, TBR Football understands that City and Arsenal are both looking at signing a new left-back this summer.
Manchester City and Arsenal looking at Premier League left-back
Arsenal and Manchester City, as well as Chelsea, are doing their homework on Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, TBR Football understands.
The 22-year-old Algerian has become one of the Premier League’s stand-out left-sided defenders and his progress has not gone unnoticed.
Ait-Nouri has flourished in Gary O’Neil’s side this season, and this has been a real breakout campaign for the £10m man.
TBR can confirm that Arsenal, City and Chelsea have been watching Ait-Nouri closely for more than 12 months and they are all looking at adding a new left-back this summer and the Wolves man is their high on their list of options.
Rayan Ait-Nouri’s incredible season
Ait-Nouri has long been tipped for big things in the Premier League since arriving at Wolves as a teenager, but over the past year he’s really started to blossom.
Described as ‘amazing’ in the past by Alan Shearer and ‘incredible’ by his manager this term, Ait-Nouri could be just what the doctor ordered for both Premier League title challengers.
Indeed, both City and Arsenal have operated without a conventional left-back for some time now with Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake, centre-backs by trade, utilised in that position for Pep Guardiola’s side, while Mikel Arteta has recently turned more and more towards Jakub Kiwior – another centre-half by trade.
TBR sources understand that Wolves are fully aware of the interest in Ait-Nouri – whose current deal at Molineux runs to 2026, with the club also having an additional 12-month option.
Arsenal and City both certainly need a new left-back this summer, and Ait-Nouri could well make a move to one of the Premier League giants.