Real Madrid risk missing out on 18-year-old target as Arsenal eye €50m move – report | OneFootball

It is clear at this point that Real Madrid are desperate for a new young signing in midfield – one who will not only provide a short-term fix but also serve as a solution in the long haul.

Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, on that front, has been one of the players who has impressed and caught the attention of the Real Madrid offices in recent times.

Still just 18 years of age, Bouaddi already has 14 Ligue 1 starts for Lille this season and has been a reliable player in the middle of the park. He averages 0.8 key passes and over seven defensive actions per game, all while being a reliable distributor.

The sudden emergency

As relayed in a reserve report by Defensa Central, Los Blancos have scouted Bouaddi for a while now and were looking to swoop him in the summer – especially given that they do not traditionally engage in mid-season transfers.

Now, however, Arsenal have come out on the aggressive and are willing to go all out to sign him in January.

Their idea is to beat the competition and the inevitable bidding war in the summer by shelling out a lucrative fee six months in advance.

Just 18 years old, Bouaddi is attracing interest from top teams. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

The emergence of the Gunners, needless to say, complicates Real Madrid’s plans of signing the talented teenage midfielder as they are now in a position where they must act immediately or lose out on him.

The chance of the former option working now out of the blue, needless to say, is remote.

Arsenal are willing to put up €50 million for Bouaddi’s signing immediately – a fee that is too high for Los Blancos to sanction on a youth star at such short notice.

Notably, PSG, Chelsea and several other top Premier League clubs also now find themselves in the same situation as Real Madrid.

As it stands, Lille are unlikely to let go of the player in the winter, even tying him down to a new contract until 2029. So, it will be interesting to see how things move forward with the 18-year-old.