Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has attracted interest from the Premier League and across Europe after bursting onto the scene at club and youth international level
Ayyoub Bouaddi after his Lille contract extension
Ayyoub Bouaddi's contract extension might not stop him moving in the summer
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Ayyoub Bouaddi has accepted he will have a decision to make in the summer when it comes to his future. The Lille star recently signed a contract extension until 2029 but that hasn't stopped speculation.
Arsenal and Chelsea are among the Premier League clubs to have been linked with the midfielder, who made his France Under-21 debut aged just 17. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid have also been mentioned as potential destinations for the 18-year-old, who has been a regular starter in Ligue 1.
An asking price of anywhere between £43million and £52m has been floated, amid suggestions of a bidding war. Bouaddi has now addressed his future in an interview with L'Equipe, and it appears nothing is set in stone.
“I have extended until 2029 and next year is still far away," he said. "I am focused on this season and we have things to fight for.
"As I also said to the president (Olivier Létang), at the end of the season, there will be a choice to be made, and anything can happen. We don’t know what will happen."
Earlier reports from France indicated Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta had met with Bouaddi's representatives. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta hasn't ruled out January investment, though a deal for the Lille man might need to wait a little longer.
"We always have to be prepared," Arteta said before the Gunners' defeat at Aston Villa last weekend. "I mean, the moment that we have an option to touch the squad, to bring to the squad or to protect the squad, depending on what happens, I think we need to be open, for example, one what’s going to happen from here till the window is closed as well, it's football. So we don’t know, but we’re certainly going to be alert and we know where the risk can come in terms of the squad, and be ready just in case we have to do something."
Ayyoub Bouaddi in action for France Under-21s
Bouaddi in action for France Under-21s
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Lille sit fourth in Ligue 1 after 15 rounds of fixtures, giving them a shot at returning to the Champions League next season. They also have nine points from their first five Europa League matches and take on Young Boys on Thursday.
Bouaddi is part of the squad to have travelled to Switzerland, but striker Hamza Igamane is unavailable. The striker suffered an injury scare in the recent meeting with Marseille and manager Bruno Genesio indicated conversations will take place with the Moroccan FA regarding his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.
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