Manchester City blocks Manchester United transfer pursuit of Rayan Aït-Nouri

Manchester United attempted to sign Rayan Aït-Nouri from Manchester City late in the summer transfer window to provide cover for Luke Shaw. The move failed after Manchester City signaled a refusal to sell the defender to a direct rival. Manchester United had previously explored alternative options including Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall and Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde, but both attempts were unsuccessful. Manchester City maintains that they have no intention of parting with Aït-Nouri during the upcoming January window, citing plans for the player to feature across multiple competitions under manager Enzo Maresca. Following these failed negotiations, Manchester United is expected to shift focus toward other targets for future transfer windows to address their defensive depth.

• 6:50 AMYahoo Sports — Blocked: Why Man United’s dramatic late move for Rayan Aït-Nouri broke down