Manchester United have reportedly reopened talks to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri amid his lack of game time at Manchester City so far this season.

The Algeria international was linked with a surprise move to Old Trafford during the final few days of the summer transfer window and Michael Carrick’s side are once again eyeing a potential deal for January.

Ait-Nouri has struggled to nail down a consistent place in the Man City starting XI since his arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer and he has been unable to work his way into favour under new boss Enzo Maresca.

The 25-year-old is yet to make his first Premier League appearance of the season and he has only racked up 138 minutes of action across all competitions so far this campaign, with Nico O’Reilly and Josko Gvardiol both ahead of him in the pecking order.

This was confirmed by Maresca earlier this month when he told reporters: “He’s a clear full-back. In that position, we have Josko [Gvardiol], who is doing fantastic, we have Nico [O’Reilly], who when he is fit is doing fantastic; and he’s the same position so it’s just competition between them.”

As a result, Ait-Nouri’s long-term future at the Etihad Stadium has been called into question and it’s understood that he is on Man Utd’s radar amid their pursuit of a new left-back to provide competition for Luke Shaw.

Man Utd in talks to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri

TEAMtalk assert that Man Utd have reopened talks with Man City over a possible January move, with intermediaries now working to see if a transfer can be agreed when the upcoming winter window opens.

Ait-Nouri, whose Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at just shy of €50 million, is reportedly open to joining Man Utd in January and he could become the first Man City star to complete a direct move to Old Trafford since Owen Hargreaves in 2011.

Man City are willing to finalise a loan deal for Ait-Nouri, although any temporary transfer would need to include an obligation-to-buy clause if certain conditions are met.

Everton are also interested in signing Ait-Nouri during the winter transfer window, but they would only be able to complete a permanent transfer as Jack Grealish is already on loan at the club from Man City this season.

Man Utd are also keeping tabs on the striker market ahead of January, with Club Brugge star Nicolo Tresoldi on their radar, while they remain eager to bolster their defensive options amid the uncertain future of Lisandro Martinez.