Arsenal have joined Manchester City and Liverpool in the bidding battle for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi this summer, according to AS (page 14).
The Moroccan international is one of the best young midfielders in Ligue 1, and he has further strengthened his reputation with his performances at the World Cup.
Bouaddi was brilliant during the 1-1 draw against Brazil in the group stage. The teenager could have a huge role to play in the round of 32 clash against the Netherlands tonight.
Amidst this, AS claim there is a long battle for the highly rated 18-year-old. Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool are the big English clubs exploring a move for the Lille midfielder.
Les Dogues prefer to keep him in their squad and have set a hefty £69 million asking price. They are in a strong negotiating position with Bouaddi, who is under contract until June 2029.
Bouaddi could emerge as an alternative midfield target
The Gunners made a verbal offer worth £55m for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes last week.
It was swiftly snubbed by the Magpies, who value their talismanic captain at more than £100m.
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott emerged as an alternative recently, but the South Coast outfit have made it clear that the Englishman is not for sale during the ongoing transfer window.
Bouaddi could be the fallback target for the Gunners. At just 18, the Moroccan has been one of the best-performing midfielders in Ligue 1, catching the eye with defensive contributions.
The Lille graduate won 60 percent of his duels last term with an average of two tackles and five recoveries. He had a passing accuracy of 85 percent and has fared much better at the World Cup.
Bouaddi has commanded possession with almost 60 passes, with a completion rate of 92 percent. He has also dazzled with his quick feet and ability to control possession from the heart of the midfield.
Arsenal may ideally want a marquee midfield signing with Premier League experience this summer, but they could turn their attention towards Bouaddi if they can’t secure one of their prime targets.
A quick decision needs to be made, with Man City and Liverpool among suitors.
Stats from Sofascore.com