Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are all interested in Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi - we look at who might win the transfer battle.
Even before the World Cup, Lille youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi was generating significant interest among Europe’s elite sides – but from the moment that he dancing his way through Brazil’s midfield in Morocco’s opening group stage game, he became one of the most sought-after prospects in the world.
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Having proven that he can handle the pressure at the highest level, Bouaddi has found himself in the midst of a three-way transfer battle between some of the Premier League’s biggest sides. Reports strongly suggest that Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are all keen and may have each opened negotiations over what could prove to be a hugely expensive deal.
Lille are said to have placed a colossal €100m (£85m) price tag on Bouaddi’s head, a price which appears to have driven off other potential suitors for the time being. PSG, widely reported to be keen prior to the transfer window, appear to have pulled out of the bidding, making England a much more likely destination – but who will win the race? Below, we’ve looked at the state of play for all three of the key suitors for Bouaddi’s signature.
Arsenal made the first move – but will they win the battle for Bouaddi?
Bouaddi switched international allegiance from France to Morocco shortly before the World Cupplaceholder image
Bouaddi switched international allegiance from France to Morocco shortly before the World Cup | Getty Images
Arsenal were reported to be the first team to make an offer for Bouaddi, which sources indicating that they made an initial offer of around €60m (£52m) back in June – but even then, before Bouaddi’s performances at the World Cup and broadening interest pushed the price up, that wasn’t enough to persuade Lille to sell.
When they realised that their initial bid was considered to be a lowball offer by Lille, Arsenal cooled in their interest somewhat and there are no indications that they have returned with a better offer. Instead, they turned their attentions to Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães.
The Magpies rejected a similar opening bid for the Brazilian, but Guimarães has since informed his current club that he wants to leave and it is likely that Arsenal will improve their offer. No agreement has yet been reached and it remains possible that Newcastle will opt to refuse any advances in order to avoid the need for a complete overhaul of their midfield. That scenario became more likely with the news that Aston Villa have overtaken them in the race to sign Swiss youngster Johan Manzambi.
Arsenal, as it stands, are in a holding pattern. If compelled to spend big to sign one of their primary targets, they would prefer the more experienced Guimarães but are waiting to find out whether or not a deal might be realistic. Should they fail with their bid for the Brazilian, they will need to make a judgement call on whether the rapidly rising asking price for Bouaddi is worth it or not. That’s a decision that hasn’t yet been made, but as it stands Arsenal are spectators rather than active participants in the race. It’s a state of affairs which could change quickly, however.
Manchester United keen as midfield priorities shift
Manchester United are keen to sign one more midfielder after agreeing deals for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemansplaceholder image
Manchester United are keen to sign one more midfielder after agreeing deals for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans | Getty Images
Bouaddi is one of a great many midfielders that Manchester United considered prior to the summer as they work on an overhaul of that positional group – but although the teenager wasn’t a priority at the start of the window, the chances that they could make a move appear to be increasing.
The Athletic reported on Tuesday that United were now among the teams with sincere interest, while transfer journalist Ben Jacobs goes as far as to claim that they are already in talks with Lille over a deal. 3 Added Minutes has been unable to corroborate that claim, but if it’s true then there are no signs that a deal has been agreed.
Complicating any assessment of Manchester United’s chances is the fact that their search for new midfielders has taken a significant left turn in recent days, and the knock-on effects of recent decisions have yet to become fully apparent.
The club have pulled out of a deal to sign Atalanta’s Éderson following a failed medical but have now agreed deals to sign Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans and Chelsea’s Andrey Santos. That means that they’re arguably most in need of a defensively-minded midfielder with more experience than Santos, who would have to step up quickly in order to successfully replace the outgoing Casemiro.
Signing Bouaddi would, in that context, represent something of a risk, and it’s not clear whether United’s transfer budget would stretch to the £85m asking price unless the club abandoned their desire to spend money on a new left-back and a new wide forward. At the moment, Manchester United may be the least likely of Bouaddi’s three suitors to make a move, but there is plenty of uncertainty.
Manchester City could be the new frontrunners to sign Bouaddi
Enzo Maresca is expected to have considerable influence over Manchester City's transfer strategy this summerplaceholder image
Enzo Maresca is expected to have considerable influence over Manchester City's transfer strategy this summer | Getty Images
Prior to the summer transfer window, Manchester City had been monitoring Bouaddi but were not seen as being especially likely to make a move, especially given their clear focus on signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Now that a deal for Anderson has been agreed, however, the landscape seems to be changing.
The primary reason that Manchester City have emerged as contenders is continued uncertainty over the future of several midfielders presently on the books at the Etihad. Tijjani Reijnders and Nico González are both viewed as expendable, while there is still no clarity over whether Rodri will remain at the club amid interest from Real Madrid. Even if the Spaniard stays, he only has one year left on his contract.
With so many players either leaving or seen as being surplus to requirements, City now want to add a younger player who can build a lasting partnership with Anderson and seem to have settled firmly on Bouaddi, with David Ornstein reporting that the club are “pushing hard” to agree a deal.
City have the advantage of a strong financial position which would allow them to unflinchingly meet Lille’s asking price should they so choose, although there are other positions of need, most notably at right-back, a position they appear to be unwilling to spend excessively on.
No deal has yet been agreed but Manchester City are pressing the hardest at the moment. That will either give them a clear run at a deal for Bouaddi over the coming days and weeks, or sting their rivals into action.
An unknown component of the story is whether Bouaddi himself has any strong feelings about his next destination – and it’s also not clear whether he would be happy to sign for City quickly or whether he would prefer to wait for other offers in order to see whether he could get a better deal. As it stands, Manchester City seem to be the favourites to sign one of Europe’s brightest young midfield talents, but there could be a way to go in the race, and there’s every chance of twists and turns as the bidding heats up.
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