Manchester City have been informed that they will need to pay £85m to secure the signing of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi this summer. The 18-year-old has enhanced his reputation during the World Cup, helping Morocco reach the quarter-finals before their elimination by France.
City's Midfield Targets
City are actively seeking to bolster their midfield and have been monitoring Bouaddi for an extended period. Their interest has been further intensified by Tottenham's acquisition of Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali. However, according to The Athletic, Lille are holding out for a fee of £85m (€100m) for any sale this summer.
Lille's Stance and Potential Hurdles
The Ligue 1 club would prefer to retain Bouaddi for another season, while City aim to integrate him directly into Enzo Maresca's squad. This difference in preference presents a significant obstacle. City will need to negotiate the price down or consider another substantial expenditure as they reshape their midfield.
City's Transfer Activity and Squad Concerns
City have already broken their club record to sign Elliot Anderson for £116m. However, uncertainties surround Rodri's future beyond next summer when his contract expires, and doubts persist over Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, and Tijjani Reijnders. The club is also targeting a right-back and a wide forward, anticipating a busy final six weeks of the transfer window.
Maresca begins pre-season training on Monday but will be without most of his squad due to World Cup commitments. This has slowed the transfer market and increased valuations for players like Bouaddi who have performed well on the international stage.
