Wolves have been fortunate to have had some extremely excellent full-backs and wing-backs in the past, including Matt Doherty, who cost about £15 million when he was transferred to Tottenham in 2020.
Spurs terminated Doherty’s contract, and he returned to the club in 2023 on a free transfer. The 32-year-old has played 26,543 minutes, scored 31 goals, and provided 39 assists in 343 games for the Molineux team over the years.
This is a tall order, which makes Wolves’ flying wide defenders even more amazing. They are typically charged with attacking output, providing crosses into the box, and tracking back to defend in a five. The bubbly Rayan Ait-Nouri is one of their most popular recent performers.
How much Wolves have to pay Rayan Ait-Nouri The most recent gifted wingback to join Wolves is Ait-Nouri, who cost merely £9.5 million to acquire from the French team Angers. He has been praised for both his technical skills and ability to carry the ball, earning him the moniker “incredibly dynamic” danger.
Ait-Nouri joined the team and has since made 120 appearances across all competitions, logging 8,218 minutes of play with seven goals and nine assists. His ability to force Wolves forward and produce deadly crosses into the box is what earned him credit for his offensive firepower. Ait-Nouri was one of Wolves’ most vital players last season, playing 2,669 minutes in 38 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals, dishing out two assists, and helping to keep six clean sheets.
The transfer value of Ait-Nouri in 2024 Ait-Nouri’s value has skyrocketed since he joined the team on a permanent contract for such a low cost back in 2021, and reports from the summer indicate that Wolves is only willing to let go of the Algerian for an incredible £60 million. Comparing that to the £9.5 million he was originally brought to the Midlands, that is an insane 531% gain.
Having already transacted with Wolves the previous season to get Matheus Nunes for £53 million, Pep Guardiuola’s Manchester City was one team apparently interested in the 23-year-old this summer.
So, how does he compare across the league? We have the answer.
When comparing Ait-Nouri to two of the best left-backs in the division, he ranks extremely close in some metrics, whilst others need context due to the quality of the clubs they are playing at. Gvardiol, being a more natural central defender, doesn’t rank as highly in some attacking metrics, however, Robertson is a prominent figure going forward, holding width on the left at times for Liverpool.
Ait-Nouri averages 2.59 progressive carries per 90 and averages 2.51 shot-creating actions per 90, that’s more than Gvardiol but fewer than Robertson). As a result, this could further increase – just like his value will – by playing for a more ball dominant side.
The 23-year-old clearly offers defensive quality, averaging the most tackles of the trio – again these metrics are impacted by the quality of clubs they play for – whilst providing an extremely high level of technical ability, something that is desired at all top clubs.
Next summer could prove difficult to keep hold of the Algerian, especailly if he continues to impress and develop at the same rate he currently is.
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