The Bouaddi saga comes to a head: Will FC Bayern come away empty-handed? | OneFootball

Ayyoub Bouaddi has caught the attention of numerous top clubs with his strong World Cup performances for Morocco. Bayern Munich is also said to be interested in the 18-year-old from OSC Lille—but the Munich club currently risks coming up short in the race to sign the talented player.

Bouaddi has impressed at the World Cup, drawing attention from all over Europe. As RMC Sport reports, citing its own sources, the German record champions are said to have recently stepped up their efforts to sound out the terms of a potential transfer.

However, the midfielder won’t come cheap. Lille’s club president, Olivier Létang, is reportedly asking for a transfer fee of at least 70 million euros. And the competition is fierce: According to reports, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Arsenal are also closely monitoring the situation. Bayern Munich is thus just one of many interested clubs.

ManCity apparently has the edge

Photo: IMAGO

Manchester City currently appears to be the frontrunner. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that England’s runner-up is planning a transfer followed by a loan back to Lille. This is precisely the option Létang is said to be pursuing: If one of the big clubs does indeed make a move, the Lille boss would insist on loaning Bouaddi back for another year—so that the young talent can continue to develop in familiar surroundings.

A move to Paris Saint-Germain, on the other hand, appears to be virtually off the table. While Bouaddi himself is reportedly open to a move to the French capital, PSG currently sees no need for a central midfielder—unless there’s an unexpected departure there.

This has been a topic of discussion at Säbener Straße for some time now

Bouaddi has been the subject of speculation at FC Bayern for quite some time. The midfielder, born in Senlis, France, has been playing for OSC Lille since 2021 and has been part of the first-team squad since 2023, where he has established himself as a key player despite his young age. He’s also a key player for Morocco’s national team—which advanced to the Round of 16 at the World Cup after defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.

Munich is set to bolster its midfield in any case: Ismael Saibari, Bouaddi’s national teammate, is on the verge of joining the club.