Manchester City transfer news: Juventus have made Rayan Aït-Nouri their main target for the left-back spot when the January window opens, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Italian paper says the club have already contacted the Algerian international’s representatives and would prefer a loan with an option to buy. Manchester United and Barcelona have also been linked, with Barcelona reportedly preparing for a possible Alejandro Balde exit.

Why City would listen

The 25-year-old has played 168 minutes across four appearances this season, all of them in cup competitions, and he has not featured in the Premier League under Enzo Maresca. Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly have kept him out, and Maresca calls it a straight competition for one position, having first suggested Aït-Nouri suited a more advanced role.

The Athletic reports he is expected to leave if a strong enough offer arrives. City paid Wolves about £31m for him last summer, so they reportedly want an obligation to buy rather than a simple loan.

Strengths and weaknesses

Aït-Nouri is at his best going forward. He scored four goals and set up seven for Wolves in 2024/25, overlaps with conviction and produced two assists in City’s 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Norwich. His weaknesses show at the other end. FotMob’s comparison with other full-backs rates him below average in aerial duels and only middling for defensive contributions, which matters when City have conceded at least two goals in six of their last nine games.

Should Manchester City let Aït-Nouri leave in January?

Yes, but only on City’s terms. A £31m defender without a Premier League minute loses value with every game he watches from the bench. His contract gives City the leverage to refuse a cheap loan and insist on an obligation to buy close to what they paid. They should also keep him away from Manchester United, who are searching for a natural left-back.

Timing is the real risk. Gvardiol lost possession in the build-up to Forest’s opener on Saturday and was replaced at half-time, while O’Reilly has carried a back problem since early September and missed England’s November squad. Selling the only natural left-back before either issue settles would leave Maresca short on a fragile side.

City should agree a deal in principle, then wait until late January to see whether O’Reilly is fit and Gvardiol steadies. If nobody meets the price, keeping a £31m reserve costs less than a loan that turns his fee into a write-down.