Manchester United made a late attempt to explore a deal for Manchester City left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri on deadline day, but the move quickly fell apart.
According to ESPN, Manchester United had already been offered the defender during the final week of the transfer window. The club then went back to City on Tuesday to ask about taking him on loan.
The response wasn’t what United wanted.
Ait-Nouri loan deal falls through
City were prepared to discuss a temporary move, but only if it included an obligation for Manchester United to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season.
That didn’t fit United’s plans.
As per ESPN, the Reds were only looking at Ait-Nouri as a short-term solution and ended discussions after being told about City’s conditions.
It means Manchester United will have to continue with their existing options at left-back after failing to find the right deal before the deadline.
There was also late movement involving Joshua Zirkzee.
Everton submitted an offer for the United striker on deadline day, proposing a season-long loan with an option to buy. Manchester United turned it down, with the bid arriving too late for the club to find a replacement.
Zirkzee has yet to play this season, although he was included in Carrick’s squads for the opening fixtures against Hull City and Ipswich.
Manchester United had spoken with Fiorentina about a possible move for the Dutchman earlier in the window, but the Italian club eventually switched their attention to Everton forward Beto.
For United, both situations ended without a deal. Ait-Nouri was not available on the terms they wanted, while Zirkzee’s late offer was deemed impossible to act upon without having a timely replacement.
