Man City are tracking the progress of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to journalist Matteo Moretto.
Speaking on Radia Marca, Moretto confirmed a report from earlier this month that the 18-year-old is greatly admired by the Manchester side:
“There is a Premier League club keeping a close eye on his situation – and that club is Manchester City. They like him; he fits a profile that is highly appealing.”
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Bouaddi has caught the eye whilst playing for Morocco at the World Cup, and there is expected to be plenty of interest in the teenager after the tournament.
Man City will have plenty of competition for the player
It is believed that Arsenal, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain have already spoken to Bouaddi’s entourage, while the likes of Chelsea have also been mentioned as potential suitors.
The biggest hurdle for all the clubs involved, though, will be the midfielder’s asking price. Lille are reportedly holding out for a fee in the region of €80m (£69m).
Considering City could pay upwards of £130m for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, it is up for debate whether there is enough room in the transfer budget for another substantial outlay on a midfielder.
Bouaddi could replace Rodri
There have been claims that City would seriously contemplate recruiting both Anderson AND Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali. That suggests that two high-profile midfield additions are a genuine possibility.
Bouaddi is likely seen as a (slightly) cheaper alternative to Tonali, with the Italian on the market for £100m. Some fans may still question the need for such a player, but there are other factors to take into consideration.
Rodri is still no closer to signing a new contract, and with his current deal set to expire next year, a succession plan may have to be put in place.
Nico Gonzalez was seen by many as his natural successor, but there is now an expectation that the 24-year-old will leave the Etihad this summer, and that may leave room for somebody like Bouaddi to be brought in.
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