Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Morocco and Lille defensive midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi and want it completed this week, sources told ESPN.
Sources added that City have already agreed personal terms with Bouaddi on a five-year contract and have acknowledged Lille’s valuation of €100 million (£87.5 million) for one of the revelations of the 2026 World Cup.
The two clubs will be discussing bonuses and the structure of the deal this week with the hope, on all three sides, that a final agreement can be reached quickly.
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Man City’s sporting director Hugo Viana has been in constant contact with Lille president Olivier Letang this summer in his pursuit of the 18-year-old Bouaddi, but were waiting to find out the outcome of the Rodri saga. The Spaniard’s departure from City to Barcelona in a deal worth €76.5 million (£65 million) opened the door for the arrival of Bouaddi.
Bouaddi was a summer transfer target for numerous top clubs and is seen as the best talent at his position in a generation, with Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all linked.
After the arrival of Elliot Anderson at City for €135 million (£116 million), the Moroccan would be another expensive addition, but the hierarchy at the Etihad are willing to meet Lille’s demands.
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Bouaddi played a key role in Morocco’s run to the quarterfinals of the World Cup, where they were eliminated by France, becoming the youngest African teenager to make five appearances at the tournament.
Bouaddi committed his international future to Morocco in May, after representing France at youth level and even captaining Les BleusU21s as recently as March. He played for Lille in a friendly against Everton on Aug. 15 in what could be his last game for the Ligue 1 side.
Maresca also wants to bring Enzo Fernández to the club to replace Tijjani Reijnders, who is on his way to Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, with City undeterred by a transfer deadline of Aug. 14 set by Chelsea to move the Argentina international.
Read more:Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta surprised by big-money transfers this summer
City were humbled 3-0 by Arsenal on Sunday in the annual FA Community Shield match and begin Premier League play on Aug. 23 at home against Bournemouth.
ESPN’s Rob Dawson contributed to this report.
