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Manchester City are making a determined effort to secure the signature of Ayyoub Bouaddi, as reported by David Ornstein.

The Lille midfielder has rapidly become one of the most in-demand teenage talents in European football, with Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United all having engaged in discussions with his representatives over the past year.

Lille’s valuation remains the main stumbling block. According to Ornstein, the French club’s asking price of around €100 million (£86 million) could deter several of Bouaddi’s suitors.

The final transfer fee may vary depending on the structure of the deal. Lille are believed to be seeking approximately €80 million if the purchasing club agrees to loan the 18-year-old back for another season, with the price increasing to €100 million for an immediate move. A number of interested parties are now reportedly open to this loan-back option.

Bouaddi’s performances at the World Cup have significantly boosted his market value. The young Moroccan has started four matches during Morocco’s impressive run to the quarter-finals, earning plaudits for his calmness on the ball and tactical awareness, particularly in encounters against Brazil, the Netherlands, and Canada.

His domestic record with Lille is already remarkable. Since making his debut at just 16, Bouaddi has accumulated 96 appearances, making him the youngest player ever to feature for the club.

Earlier this year, he surpassed Eden Hazard’s milestone to become the youngest player to reach 50 Ligue 1 appearances for Les Dogues.

Despite the mounting interest, Lille are under no immediate pressure to sell. Bouaddi signed a contract extension in December that ties him to the club until 2029, and club chairman Olivier Letang has directly compared his value to some of the major midfield transfers of this summer.

“When I see Anderson move to Manchester City for £116 million and Tonali to Tottenham for £100 million, I believe Ayyoub offers even greater developmental potential because of his unique attributes,” Letang told The Standard. “I have a price in mind, and we’ll see how things unfold.”

Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid have all been monitoring Bouaddi’s situation, while Paris Saint-Germain are not expected to enter the race. Lille are said to prefer a transfer agreement that would see the player join his new club in 2027.