Ayyoub Bouaddi future decision expected soon as Man City pursue £85M Moroccan superstar | OneFootball

Ayyoub Bouaddi’s decision on his future is in the offing as Manchester City “push hard” to secure the Lille midfielder’s signature, as per new reports.

The Moroccan has been a sensation during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and played a starring role in his nation’s impressive run to the quarter-final stage, which saw them bow out at the hands of favourites France.

His performances have garnered attention from clubs across Europe during this summer’s window, with City’s director of football Hugo Viana a huge admirer of the 18-year-old, who has already appeared 63 times for LOSC Lille in France’s top-tier.

Manchester City‘s interest in Bouaddi comes as we await formalities to be completed on Elliot Anderson‘s £116 million move from Nottingham Forest after he returns from World Cup action with semi-finalists England – and with murmurs of moves for Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders, a new look midfield may be favourable for new City boss Enzo Maresca.

Report: City pushing hard for Bouaddi as Moroccan prepares to make a decision

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, City remain the leading candidates in the race to secure Bouaddi’s services, but will not do so without meeting Lille’s price tag reportedly set at around £85 million.

The Moroccan was already on the watchlist of many big entities, however his stellar World Cup performances have seen his rise to prominence strengthen, with names like Arsenal and Manchester United thought to have also made contact with Bouaddi’s representatives.

City, according to Ornstein, are “pushing hard” ahead of thee 18-year-old’s decision on his future, and remain confident that they can persuade the midfielder to swap Lille for Manchester if a transfer offer is accepted.

With the middle of the park representing an area of concentration for both Viana and Maresca in the wake of the club’s latest era, it is accepted that Manchester City would likely look to integrate the teenager into the squad immediately, rather than opting for a development season at Lille or elsewhere.

What does this mean for City’s midfield amid a busy transfer window?

In typical City fashion, improvements are imminent in various areas of the pitch, with the deal to sign Chelsea’s Malo Gusto as a right-back option still hanging in the balance as Anderson waits to travel to Manchester after becoming the most expensive British player in history.

With veteran Rodri‘s contract expiring next summer, while Gonzalez and Reijnders attract interest from other clubs despite their short tenures at the club so far, there is uncertainty around the ever-evolving parameters of City’s midfield.

Bouaddi’s price tag looks to be high, but City’s representatives are confident that the Moroccan’s World Cup and Ligue 1 showings are enough to warrant it, with the teenager offering an exceptionally calm and composed outlook on play at such a young age.