Arsenal want Lille defensive midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi | OneFootball

Arsenal are pushing hard to sign Lille defensive midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to RMC Sports journalist and transfer expert Fabrice Hawkins.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to strengthen in the middle of the park, but the Gunners will face competition from Chelsea to bring the Frenchman to the Emirates Stadium club.

Lille are not open to a January sale and are looking to extend Bouaddi’s contract and sell him for more than €50 million next summer.

The 18-year-old has been ever-present for the Ligue 1 club this term, making 18 appearances across all competitions, and Arsenal have been monitoring his situation.

Luring Bouaddi to England could prove tricky as Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on recruiting his services.

He has been one of the best in his position in the French top-flight despite his age, and the Gunners are convinced he has what it takes to improve their squad going forward.

However, Bouaddi is unlikely to force his way into Arteta’s starting XI immediately if he joins next summer given the options currently available to the Spaniard.

He is a signing for the future and moving to Arsenal to sit on the bench may not appeal to the teenage sensation.

They could sign him and send him back on loan to Lille for him to continue his development for a few more seasons before bringing him to North London.

Arsenal signed William Saliba from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2019, but he spent the next three seasons on loan in France before returning to his parent club ready to hit the ground running.

The France international has since established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the world, and the Gunners could follow the same route with Bouaddi.

He has to be convinced about the Arsenal project for such a deal to convince him given the calibre of clubs interested in him, and pipping competition to him could be huge for the Gunners.