Manchester City appears to be progressing toward securing another midfield addition as the transfer window reaches its critical stages. The club has already brought in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer, but manager Enzo Maresca requires further reinforcements for his engine room. Reports indicate that negotiations with French club Lille over midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi are advancing, with the deal potentially nearing completion after weeks of discussions between the two clubs.
Lille manager Davide Ancelotti has publicly acknowledged the ongoing talks with Manchester City regarding Bouaddi, while offering high praise for the 18-year-old Moroccan international. Ancelotti described the midfielder as exceptionally intelligent and mature beyond his years, highlighting his technical completeness and physical prowess in midfield duels. The Lille boss suggested Bouaddi has the potential to become one of Europe’s elite midfielders over the next decade.
The pursuit of Bouaddi coincides with anticipated departures from the Etihad Stadium. Rodri is expected to join Barcelona pending the Spanish club meeting City’s valuation, while Tijjani Reijnders is set to complete a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah. These exits have created urgency for Maresca to strengthen his midfield options before the season intensifies. Bouaddi’s arrival would address these gaps with a prospect who demonstrated his quality during Morocco’s World Cup campaign earlier this year.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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