Rayan Ait-Nouri has today been linked with an exit from Wolves.
According to a report from The Telegraph, he is one of a few players in the squad who could be sold in a bid to balance the books.
Ait-Nouri has endured a pretty disappointing 2023 so far.
The 22-year-old had made some useful cameo appearances when Julen Lopetegui first came in, and he actually won the December Player of the Month award at Wolves.
But it’s been all downhill from there.
Against Newcastle United back in March, Ait-Nouri came off the bench with the game at 1-1. Newcastle then scored a goal down his side of the pitch, while Ait-Nouri was caught high up the pitch and out of position. Sky pundit Jamie Carragher suggested at the time that Ait-Nouri was partly to blame for the goal.
After that game, Lopetegui left Ait-Nouri out of the next seven squads. He then recalled him to the bench against Aston Villa, but did not play him.
He was left out against Manchester United and Everton, before Lopetegui finally game him minutes off the bench against Arsenal in the final game.
Rayan Ait-Nouri has had such a fall from grace at Wolves
It is remarkable to think we are now talking about Ait-Nouri as a possible outgoing at Wolves.
At one point, he was not just one of the most talented young players at Wolves, but arguably in the whole Premier League as well.
In the 2022/23 season, Ait-Nouri was so good that he was getting linked with the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
His stock was very high, some even felt worried that he might be poached last summer.
So it’s been quite a fall from grace for Ait-Nouri, who is now behind both Hugo Bueno – a player who came through the academy and only made his debut last October – and Toti Gomes – a natural centre-back – in the pecking order.
Few will have seen him being sold this summer as a possibility a year ago.
But it’s very possible he could now depart – but Wolves making that decision could come back to haunt them.
Rayan Ait-Nouri could end up flourishing away from Wolves if sold
If Wolves do offload Ait-Nouri this summer, then he could easily ended up shining.
Ait-Nouri is a tremendous young talent with brilliant feet.
Arguably, he is actually one of the best ball-carriers Wolves have.
But admittedly, the defensive side of his game needs work, and he also needs to be better with his decision making. Earlier this year, former Wolves Women star Claire Hakeman suggested that Lopetegui didn’t trust him defensively.
Ait-Nouri is still raw, but his potential is huge.
Hopefully Wolves don’t sell him. It’s been reported that the reason he was missing out on squads is because he (and also Raul Jimenez) is quite a laidback individual. So it may have come across like he wasn’t fighting hard for his place. There is no attitude problem.
If Lopetegui senses there is fire in Ait-Nouri’s belly, then the £10 million ace should absolutely not be sold.
However, if the player is keen for a move away, then Wolves would have to move him on – as disappointing as that would be.