Former Manchester United forward Dwight Yorke has identified Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as the only player worth a £100 million investment for the club this summer. Speaking to BOYLE Sports, Yorke urged the Reds to pursue the 18-year-old, who impressed at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
World Cup Breakout Star
Bouaddi started all five matches for Morocco at the World Cup, including the group opener against Brazil where he narrowly missed out on the Player of the Match award. His performances continued throughout the tournament until Morocco were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals. The teenager's displays have attracted interest from top clubs including Arsenal, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Yorke's Verdict
Yorke, who made over 150 appearances for United, compared Bouaddi to Kylian Mbappe in terms of impact. "If you're spending £100 million on a player, you want to be signing the midfield equivalent of Kylian Mbappe," Yorke said. "Bouaddi from Morocco, the young kid, he is that player. I watched him closely at this World Cup and he looked remarkable in games like against Brazil. He is young. He is a real project."
Yorke added: "I would spend money on Bouaddi because he has the potential to be the best in the world. Outside of Bouaddi, there is nobody else making me think wow, there's £100million worth of player here."
Critique of Other Targets
Yorke questioned the valuation of other midfielders linked with big-money moves, such as Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali. "Are you really telling me that Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and the rest of them are exceptional players? They're good players. That's all. I can’t get my head around it," he said. "A £100million player should be somebody who does things that no other players can do on the planet."
United's Summer Business
Manchester United have already been active in the transfer window, completing three signings: Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50 million, Karl Darlow on a free transfer from Leeds United, and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million. The club could still add a third midfielder, with Bouaddi emerging as a prime target to take the team to the next level.
