Ruben Amorim sets sights Premier League star as Man Utd boss decides transfer priority

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is said to have set his sights on Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.

The former Sporting Lisbon chief, 39, oversaw his first game since joining the Red Devils on Sunday, where the size of the task now facing him was made clear as United drew 1-1 with Ipswich Town.

It's already been reported that Amorim will be working with a limited budget in January as United seek to comply with the Premier League 's Profit and Sustainability Rules. But that hasn't stopped the Portuguese coach from targeting Ait-Nouri.

The Algeria international, 23, has been one of the few bright sparks for Wolves this season during their torrid start to the campaign - and it seems as though that has alerted some of their top-flight rivals.

According to The Sun, Amorim has made strengthening at left-back - where United have been short due to injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia - a priority, with Ait-Nouri his preferred target.

The report goes on to claim that Ait-Nouri, who has registered three goals and two assists in the Premier League this season, is open to leaving Molineux in 2025.

Liverpool have previously been credited with an interest in the attacking wing-back, who has clocked up more than 100 appearances in the top-flight since joining Wolves. He is under contract with the club until the summer of 2026.

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While it remains to be seen if either United or Wolves would be open to doing a deal for Ait-Nouri mid-season, he isn't the only Premier League star on the Red Devils radar heading into the winter transfer window.

It emerged last week that Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is still a target for United, who saw more than one bid rejected by the Toffees in the summer. That hasn't deterred them, though, with Branthwaite yet to sign a new contract at Goodison Park.

Branthwaite is seen as a player who could thrive in Amorim's favoured 3-4-3 system, with United open to making a move for the player in January due to high interest in his services from elsewhere. The centre-half does, however, still have three years left to run on his current deal, putting Everton in a strong position.

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