City eyeing move for Moroccan midfield prodigy Bouaddi

Rodri succession plan?

Manchester City may be preparing to enter the race for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, one of Europe's most highly regarded young midfielders. The 18-year-old Moroccan caught the eye during his country's 1-1 draw with Brazil in their World Cup opener, holding his own against a midfield featuring Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá.

Bouaddi completed 60 of 66 passes and dictated the tempo of what was described as a pulsating match. It was the kind of performance that generates transfer speculation, and that speculation has arrived.

Graeme Bailey reported for TeamTalk that PSG and Arsenal are leading the race, with Lille demanding over £60 million for their teenage sensation. The same report listed City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona as also showing interest.

Transfer reporter Matteo Moretto then responded to a question about Bouaddi's next destination on social media with a single answer: Manchester City. That may indicate the Blues are indeed in the conversation.

What Bouaddi offers

Bouaddi started playing first-team football in Ligue Un at 16. That alone marks him out. He operates as an out-and-out number six or alongside one, and his major strength is winning duels and possession. He reads the game exceptionally well and makes crucial interceptions.

He is not yet a creative force going forward, and tends to play safe passes rather than the kind of line-breaking balls Rodri provides. But at 18, there is scope to develop that side of his game. For now, he is better at keeping possession ticking over than being a direct creative threat.

With the ball at his feet, Bouaddi is described as elegant — gliding around the pitch, comfortable dribbling and passing with both feet. Standing at 185 centimetres, he sees off challenges and is not fazed by opponents getting tight. His tactical awareness is considered elite for his age.

If City do push hard for Bouaddi, it would not surprise anyone who has watched him. The question is whether they will go head-to-head with the likes of PSG and Arsenal to get him.