Manchester City Are In Advanced Talks To Land This Ligue 1 Midfielder: Good Choice For Maresca? | OneFootball

In a recent report, talkSPORT revealed that Manchester City are in advanced talks to land Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. It has been stated that the Mancunian giants have agreed terms with the Morocco international and are working on a move to bring him to the Etihad Stadium this off-season.

Bouaddi’s Impressive Rise In Ligue 1

Bouaddi enjoyed a good run of form at the French club in the previous campaign when he put in a handful of influential displays for them in the middle of the park. The Moroccan whizkid played in 42 matches for Lille last season, registering one assist in the process across multiple competitions.

The 18-year-old is currently among the best young central midfielders in Ligue 1. Therefore, Man City would do well to bring him to England in this transfer window.

His current contract at the French club will run out in the summer of 2029, which could make it difficult for the Mancunian giants to land him on a cut-price deal later this year.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JULY 04: Ayyoub Bouaddi #6 of Morocco competes for the ball against Stephen Eustaquio #7 of Canada during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Will Bouaddi Be A Good Choice For Manchester City Boss Enzo Maresca?

Bouaddi is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to make some important interceptions for his team at the centre of the park. He doesn’t mind clearing the danger when needed and is a good passer as well from midfield.

The Moroccan teenager can even create the odd chance for his teammates to find the back of the net. Bouaddi is primarily a box-to-box midfielder but can also play as a holding midfielder if asked to do so. However, there are some concerns over whether he can make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League if the Mancunian giants end up recruiting him this off-season.

We can expect Bouaddi to bring more quality and depth to Man City boss Enzo Maresca’s midfield in the long run. He is already good enough to fight for regular first-team football at the Etihad Stadium next season.

At 18, Bouaddi has the potential to be a world-class player in his position someday. Thus, he would be an excellent choice for Man City this summer. However, Maresca has to be patient with his development before he can get the best out of him in English football.