Liverpool - Anfield Stadium
Liverpool - Anfield Stadium
Liverpool transfer news: The Reds eye Bouaddi after striking World Cup bow
Liverpool transfer news: Liverpool sent senior recruitment figures to New York for one reason. To watch Ayyoub Bouaddi. According to football finance reporter Santi_J_FM, this wasn’t a routine scouting trip. It was a specific, targeted mission to see the Lille teenager in the flesh during Morocco’s World Cup opener against Brazil. The 18-year-old midfielder went straight onto the Anfield shortlist after that match. He joins Monaco’s Lamine Camara on the radar.
Bouaddi absolutely ran the show at MetLife Stadium. He helped Morocco secure a 1-1 draw against the South American giants, causing an immediate media frenzy. The kid completed 91 per cent of his passes. He won nine duels. Those are absurd numbers for a teenager on the biggest stage in football. Those numbers frankly don’t read like an 18-year-old’s.
He isn’t a complete novice, mind. Bouaddi racked up 30 Ligue 1 appearances last term, playing a massive role in guiding Lille into the Champions League. Anfield officials clearly liked what they saw in the US.
The battle for the Lille prodigy
Is a deal actually realistic? It’s messy. Very messy.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Liverpool and Arsenal have already established direct contact with the player’s camp. The interest is real. PSG have been talking to his agents since January, though they apparently want to strengthen other areas first. Manchester United are also lurking under Michael Carrick. It’s a proper old-school transfer battle.
Read: Liverpool have shortlisted two players and valued them £120 million
Lille hold the cards here. Bouaddi signed a contract extension in December 2025 that ties him down until 2029. They will demand an absolute fortune. New boss Andoni Iraola has reportedly tracked the youngster for months. A midfield refresh is desperately needed at Anfield. Look at the constant speculation surrounding Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones. Liverpool need top-tier reinforcements, but they face a massive hurdle. Securing Bouaddi means outbidding three of the richest clubs in the world.
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