Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi, as Elliot Anderson prepares to finalise his move from Nottingham Forest for £116 million.
City have been relatively quiet in the summer transfer window, with their confirmed signings not expected to impact the first-team picture next season. Mathys Detourbet arrived from sister club Troyes but has been loaned to Monaco, while goalkeeper Pierce Charles will continue his development at Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.
City also beat Arsenal to the signing of highly-rated youngster Jeremy Monga, and now appear set to sign another of the Gunners' targets. Arsenal had held initial talks over Bouaddi as Mikel Arteta sought to bolster his midfield options.
Bouaddi agreement reached
Reports in Italy claim City are now leading the race for the Morocco international's signature, reaching an agreement in principle with the Lille midfielder for a contract until 2031. City still need to agree a transfer fee with Lille, though chairman Olivier Letang has suggested north of £100 million will be enough.
Letang said: "When I see Anderson move to Manchester City for £116 million and Tonali to Tottenham for £100 million, and they don't have the potential for development that Ayyoub has because he possesses unique qualities. I have a price in mind, and we'll see what happens."
Anderson set to finalise move
Anderson is set to finalise his transfer from Nottingham Forest following England's exit from the World Cup. Upon confirming an agreement with Forest, City stated: "Anderson, 23, is currently competing at the FIFA World Cup with England and has completed a medical in Kansas. The formalities of the move will be finalised upon his return to England."
