Man City push to bring Ayyoub Bouaddi in immediately | OneFootball

Manchester City are stepping up their efforts to sign Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi this summer, with the Premier League giants hoping to integrate the midfielder into Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad immediately.

The 18-year-old has emerged as one of Europe’s most coveted young talents after another outstanding campaign for Lille and a hugely impressive World Cup with Morocco.

Bouaddi’s performances on football’s biggest stage have only intensified interest from some of the continent’s elite clubs, with Manchester City now understood to be leading the race for his signature.

City have tracked the teenager for more than a year and remain convinced he has the technical quality and maturity to develop into one of Europe’s leading midfielders.

Manchester United and Arsenal have also maintained interest in Bouaddi over the past 12 months, while several other top clubs have made enquiries over his availability.

Lille, however, are in no rush to sell and are expected to demand a fee in the region of €100 million for one of the brightest graduates to emerge from their academy.

Club president Olivier Letang recently underlined Bouaddi’s growing value by suggesting his price should be measured against some of the biggest midfield transfers in recent Premier League history.

The French club are expected to hold fresh discussions with the player following his return from the World Cup before any final decision is made on his future.

One option under consideration has been for Bouaddi to join a major European club before spending another season on loan at Lille to continue his development.

Manchester City, though, are believed to favour bringing him to the Etihad Stadium immediately as they continue reshaping their midfield ahead of the new campaign.

The club remain active in the market after appointing Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor and are keen to strengthen an area that has undergone significant changes in recent months.

Bouaddi’s profile is viewed as an excellent fit for City’s possession-based style thanks to his composure under pressure, tactical intelligence and ability to dictate the tempo of matches despite his age.

The teenager already boasts well over 100 senior appearances for Lille, having featured in Ligue 1, the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League before turning 19.

His rapid rise has also established him as a regular for Morocco, where he played a key role during the World Cup and further enhanced his reputation against some of the strongest international opposition.

While Lille continue to insist they are under no pressure to cash in, Manchester City are expected to continue pushing for an agreement as they attempt to win the race for one of European football’s most exciting young midfielders.