Rayan Ait-Nouri is a wanted man after enjoying a brilliant 2023/24 season with Wolves.
The Algeria international had a renaissance at the club after falling by the wayside under Julen Lopetegui towards the end of the 2022/23 season. The Spaniard left him out of several matchday squads, and his future at Molineux looked somewhat bleak.
But Lopetegui then walked away, with Gary O’Neil replacing him.
This would prove to be the catalyst for Ait-Nouri, who became the number one choice for the new manager – and he stayed that throughout the season.
Ait-Nouri thrived under O’Neil, making 38 appearances across all competitions.
His impressive showings have recently led to speculation that he could leave this summer.
But Wolves fans can at least take heart from some new comments he has made.
Rayan Ait-Nouri insists he is ‘very happy’ at Wolves right now
Ait-Nouri has been suggested as a player who could be offloaded this summer in order to raise funds.
Seemingly, either he or Pedro Neto will be the most likely ‘big’ sale for the club this summer, but plenty don’t want Ait-Nouri to go.
There is a feeling for many that it is Neto’s ‘time’ to go, having been at the club for five years. Some feel that with Ait-Nouri, there is still lots of room for him to develop and increase his market value.
We will see how it pans out, but certainly, for the moment, Ait-Nouri is not thinking of an exit.
He sat down with the club for an interview, and said: “I’m very happy with a very good season. We won a lot of important games with the new manager, and me and my teammates are very happy, and hopefully they will be the same next season.
“The previous season [2022/23] was a little bit hard for me, but I have a lot of confidence and I knew what I could do on the pitch, and this season I was able to show that.
“It was a very good season for me, and for everyone. For sure, I’m very happy here.”
Should £10,000-a-week gem Ait-Nouri end up leaving, it is thought Wolves could potentially make a move for Ryan Sessegnon, who is becoming a free agent after a spell at Tottenham Hotspur.
Ait-Nouri could still be sold
It is good to hear Ait-Nouri is really happy where he is right now and in an ideal world he will stay.
However, money talks. Especially for Wolves. So if a huge bid comes in for Ait-Nouri the board are going to at the very least consider it.
He may be happy at Molineux but if the powers that be at Molineux feel a fair offer has been presented then you would imagine they will be ready to sell.
That said, the player’s stance will count for a lot. If he’s genuinely really happy at Wolves, he may not give the green light to a move away. Wolves fans would love to hope he would do that and maybe stick around for one more year.
Certainly, Ait-Nouri loves working with O’Neil and credits him with helping him turn things around. It is very possible he’d be willing to stay to repay the faith shown in him by his manager.