Report: Wolves battling Barcelona for another Mendes client; he’ll cost £18m

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The battle for Angers defender Rayan Ait-Nouri has become a three-horse race with Wolverhampton Wanderers battling Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen for the £18 million Frenchman, according to Le10 Sport.

The list of sides linked with one of Ligue 1’s rapidly rising stars this summer is long and varied.

But, with little more than a week remaining before the transfer window shuts, it seems the likes of Leicester City, Monaco, Manchester United and Crystal Palace are looking elsewhere.

Because, according to reports in his native France, Ait-Nouri now has a choice of just three clubs.

One of those, interestingly, is a Wolves side that has made signing rough diamonds like the 19-year-old sensation its trademark.

You won’t be surprised to learn Ait-Nouri is a client of Jorge Mendes – the super-agent who brought Nelson Semedo, Rui Patricio, Ruben Neves, Daniel Podence and many more to Molineux.

An attack-minded full-back, the France U21 international would fit nicely into Nuno Espirito Santo’s preferred 3-5-2 formation and Wolves’ interest will raise further doubts about the future of Ruben Vinagre.

The Daily Mail reports the Europa League quarter-finalists are looking to sell the youngster to raise funds for new additions, with Porto interested.

“I think Rayan is going to leave,” Angers coach Stephane Moulin told RMC’s Top Of The Foot podcast.

“He is a player who will have a great career. He is a boy who is a little out of the ordinary. He’s a talented player. If he continues his progression, he will play at a big club very soon.”

Moulin added he would rather see Ait-Nouri join an “intermediate” club rather than move straight on to Barcelona.

Like Wolves, for example.