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Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City reportedly remain the frontrunners for signing Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite having two more years left on his contract, Wolves have set an asking price of €45 million for the Algerian defender. They are reportedly ready to part with him if that is paid off.
Rayan Ait-Nouri is an out-and-out offensive left-back. However, he can be as effective in the defense when his side are pushed back by the incessant attacks of the opposition. One of the greatest assets of the 23-year-old is his electric pace and ability to run up and down the field to aid in both attack and defense.
In the Premier League, Ait-Nouri often comes across world-class wingers and has more or less been able to match up with most of them during his stay at Wolves. In the 2023-24 season, he scored twice and provided one assist in 33 league games.
However, the key highlight of his gameplay was his 4.1 ball recoveries per game. This showed that the left-back was effective in breaking opposition attacking lines through the flanks and starting a counterattack for his own side.
According to CaughtOffside, representatives from Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool have all had a talk with the management of Wolves regarding the Algerian youngster. However, none have proceeded to table an official offer so far.
Rayan Ait-Nouri could be surplus to requirements at Chelsea
Under their new manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea already has a plethora of options in the left-back positions. Many of them have shown their form and prowess in the recent international break.
One of the most prominent ones among them is Marc Cucurella. The Spaniard was an integral part of La Roja's Euro 2024 winning campaign and was rock solid at the back. Furthermore, he showed his pace and ball control several times by moving up the field with the ball at his feet. His contract with Chelsea doesn't run out till 2028.
Another potent player in that role is Ben Chillwell, who is tied to the west London club till 2027. However, he's had multiple injury issues, missing over 30 games last season.
Furthermore, they recently signed Renato Vega for €14 million from Basel. The player is a versatile defender capable of functioning as a hybrid between a central midfielder and a left-back.
Therefore, Chelsea have a cohort of options in that position. Hence, Rayan Ait-Nouri's services might not be immediately required by the Stamford Bridge side.
