Manchester City pushing to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester United have already begun reshaping their midfield this summer, but that has not stopped the club from keeping tabs on some of Europe’s brightest young talents.

The arrivals of Andrey Santos and soon-to-be announced signing Youri Tielemans have strengthened Michael Carrick’s options, although United continue to monitor emerging players capable of making an impact in the years ahead.

One of those names is attracting attention from across the Premier League.

Manchester City leading the race to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City are now leading the race to sign Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with a decision on his future expected in the near future, as reported by The Athletic.

The 18-year-old has become one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe after an impressive rise at Lille, where he has established himself as one of the club’s brightest prospects.

According to The Athletic, Manchester City are pushing hard to secure his signature and would prefer to bring him into Enzo Maresca’s squad immediately rather than loaning him back to Lille for another season.

Manchester United have also been tracking Ayyoub Bouaddi over the past year, with the Red Devils among several Premier League clubs to make contact with the midfielder’s representatives.

Arsenal are also understood to have registered their interest.

Lille are open to selling if the right offer arrives, although reports suggest the French club value Bouaddi at around €100 million (£85 million), a figure that could prove too high for many of his admirers.

Bouaddi’s stock has only continued to rise following an excellent World Cup campaign with Morocco.

The teenager featured five times during the tournament, playing 384 minutes as Morocco reached the quarter-finals before eventually being knocked out by France.

He also impressed statistically, recording a 91% passing accuracy.

Although Manchester United have prioritised adding proven midfield quality this summer through Santos and Tielemans, Bouaddi remains a player admired by the club.