Manchester City pushing to sign €100million Liverpool target

Manchester City’s summer rebuild in midfield has already started with a statement of intent.

Fresh from a huge transfer to land England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £116m, City have made it abundantly clear that they are willing to go to the very top of the market

Anderson, 23, arrives as the most expensive British player of all time and the most costly signing in City’s history, eclipsing the fee paid for Jack Grealish.

But it seems Enzo Maresca’s side are not done there. Ayyoub Bouaddi has emerged as one of the most sought‑after young midfielders on the continent.

His performances have not gone unnoticed at Anfield either: Liverpool have held talks with Bouaddi’s representatives and are known admirers.

But Manchester City are the ones pushing hardest for the 18-year-old.

David Ornstein, reporting in the Athletic’s Transfer Dealsheet, has reported that Manchester City are currently “pushing hard” to sign the Lille midfielder:

“Manchester City are pushing hard for Bouaddi ahead of him making a decision on his future, which is expected soon.”

“Lille would consider selling for what they deem the right price, though if a valuation believed to be in the region of €100million (£85m; $114m) proves true, it will be prohibitive to many admirers.”

“City, Arsenal and Manchester United are some of the teams to have been in contact with Bouaddi’s camp over the past 12 months. Paris Saint-Germain football advisor Luis Campos brought him to Lille in 2021, but they are not a contender this summer.”

“While there are clubs open to doing a deal now and allowing Bouaddi to continue developing at Lille for another season, it is thought City would rather integrate him immediately.”

The French club would ideally want to include a one-year loan-back arrangement – meaning Bouaddi would be sold this summer but remain at Lille for the 2026/27 season.

Alternatively, it could in the form of a pre-agreement, where a suitor signs him this summer, but he only joins officially in the 2027/28 season

He has made 96 senior appearances for Les Dogues and started 28 of their 34 Ligue 1 fixtures last season.

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