City are stepping up efforts to complete a deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to Fabrizio Romano, with talks between the two clubs expected to progress today.
City’s agreement with Lille over a fee is understood to be closing in, building on reports from earlier in the week that the two sides remained apart on valuation — City had been pushing for a fee close to €90m fixed, against Lille’s initial €100m asking price. Personal terms with Bouaddi’s camp, already broadly in place, are also described as nearing completion.
The 18-year-old has emerged as one of City’s key midfield targets this summer, with the club’s hierarchy understood to have been tracking the move closely; chief executive Ferran Soriano is reported to have met Lille’s president in person in June to discuss a possible deal, underlining how seriously City have pursued the signing rather than treating it as a speculative link.
Bouaddi made his breakthrough for Lille last season, establishing himself as a regular in Bruno Genesio’s midfield and attracting interest from elsewhere in Europe before City moved to the front of the queue.
Should the fee be finalised, City would be viewed as strong favourites to complete the signing before the transfer window closes, giving Guardiola an additional midfield option regardless of how the Rodri situation develops.
City’s business this window can be followed on our Man City summer transfer tracker, updated as deals develop.
