Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi impressed at this summer's World Cup and is on Manchester City's radar.
Ayyoub Bouaddi is on Manchester City's radar this summer
Ayyoub Bouaddi is on Manchester City's radar this summer(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Lille president Olivier Letang insists there is a very high chance Ayyoub Bouaddi stays at his club this summer, despite interest from Manchester City. Earlier this summer, City completed the £116m signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest to strengthen their midfield after losing Bernardo Silva.
However, City still want to add another midfielder to their ranks. Rodri has entered the final year of his contract, while uncertainty surrounds the futures of Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic and Tijjani Reijnders. Bouaddi, who excelled at the World Cup for Morocco, has since emerged as a target.
Lille are holding out for £85m if they are to sell Bouaddi this summer. The French club would also like to keep him for next season, were he to be sold. But City would prefer him to join Enzo Maresca's squad immediately.
In a press conference on Thursday, Letang was asked about the prospect of selling Bouaddi. "I have never spoken about figures, and I won’t start today because I’m not the one who sets them," he said, per Morocco World News. "There are very few clubs capable of signing a player of Bouaddi’s quality at just 18 years old. What matters most is the overall project, his development path, and finding the best environment for him to continue growing."
"We have seen each other since his return from the World Cup," Letang added, per Get Football News France. "I can’t say what was said.
"Everything is possible, but my opinion is that he should stay with us another season. My conviction is that there is a strong chance that he stays with us and he would be very happy to do so."
Interest in Bouaddi comes as the Blues prepare to kickstart their preparations for the new season. City's players will return for pre-season on Monday following their summer breaks. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Phil Foden and Rico Lewis are among the senior players expected to report back for Maresca's first training session.
Those who featured at the World Cup will be afforded an extended break. Exact dates for when those players will be back are unclear but FIFPRO recommends at least an uninterrupted four-week summer break.
City will play their first pre-season fixture on August 1 against Inter. Their first competitive match is on August 16 against Arsenal in the Community Shield before they return to the Premier League a week later, at home to AFC Bournemouth.