Manchester City are among the clubs interested in signing Lille’s Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi.
The 18-year-old has emerged as one of the bright stars of the 2026 World Cup, helping Morocco reach the last 16, where they will meet hosts Canada.
City have already completed a club record deal to sign Elliott Anderson for £116 million from Nottingham Forest and could further strengthen their midfield with the arrival of Bouaddi.
It is understood the youngster is on a target list that also includes Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.
Lille have reportedly set an asking price of between £69 million and £86 million.externalHowever, City sources say signing and then loaning a player out for a season is unlikely for a player who has established himself in the first team for both club and country.
BBC Sport reported that Bouaddi is also being tracked by Premier League champions Arsenal, as well as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.external.