Liverpool have opened talks with Lille over a deal to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi ahead of Manchester City this summer, according to Football Insider.
The Reds have had a quiet summer window so far, welcoming Jeremy Jacquet following his signing in January and completing a deal to sign winger Victor Munoz, while it has been confirmed that Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate, and Mohamed Salah have departed on free transfers.
New manager Andoni Iraola has come in to replace Arne Slot in the dugout and wants to put his stamp on the squad ahead of the new campaign, and a new midfielder has emerged as a priority position to bolster.
Liverpool Hold Talks for Bouaddi
Ayyoub Bouaddi in action for Morocco at the 2026 World CupBurt Granofsky/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA
Bouaddi, who has been described as 'elite', has been one of the standout midfield performers this summer at the World Cup, helping them reach the quarter-finals, where they will face off against tournament favourites France on Thursday night.
The 18-year-old has been highly-sought after for a while by clubs in England, with Lille always open to the fact that he would move on to a club at the highest level. That seems to now be inevitable, and Liverpool are ready to push ahead to get a deal done over their rivals.
The Anfield side have opened talks with the Ligue 1 outfit over a deal for Bouaddi, with Man City and Arsenal also understood to be in the running, with the race for his signature described as 'open'.
Lille are understood to be open to a sale, but are likely to use Elliot Anderson's £116m move to Man City and Sandro Tonali's £100m move to Tottenham Hotspur as a yardstick for their valuation.
They are also aware of the amount of interest in their star midfield talent, and will use that to leverage the best price they possibly can. The chances are that Bouaddi will move on this summer, and Liverpool are working hard to get to the front of the queue.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
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Liverpool Need Midfield Reinforcements
Bouaddivia Reuters
Liverpool's midfield options currently consist of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, and Curtis Jones, but Iraola needs more. Jones is expected to leave amid interest from Nottingham Forest and Inter Milann, while Endo is recovering from a serious ankle injury.
Bouaddi is someone who is more than capable of stepping into the midfield and making an immediate impact, despite his age, but he will also understand if he finds himself on the bench for some games considering the level of the squad.
That's the best type of signing to make in Liverpool's position, and if they can agree a deal ahead of their rivals, it would be a huge coup.
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