Manchester City Target Bouaddi Amidst Midfield Market Moves

Manchester City are pushing hard to land Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, with confidence growing at the Etihad that the deal will be wrapped up before the window shuts.

City are expected to strike an agreement worth around £85m with the Ligue 1 club, with the Morocco international lined up for a five-year contract. It would be another heavyweight investment in the heart of Pep Guardiola’s – and now Enzo Maresca’s – rebuilt midfield.

Lille, though, are not rolling out a farewell banner just yet.

Head coach Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazil boss Carlo, made it clear after Lille’s 1-1 draw with Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium that he still counts Bouaddi as part of his plans. The 18-year-old came on for the second half, fresh from enhancing his reputation at the World Cup.

“Bouaddi is a very good player,” Ancelotti said. “He is available and he played 45 minutes. But that is only because I have to manage his minutes. Next week we start the season and I consider him as an available player for me.

“Of course, there are negotiations. There is interest from so many clubs. He is a really, really good player and I hope that he is going to stay with us.”

Pressed on what separates the teenager from the pack, Ancelotti did not hold back.

“He has a huge personality. He is incredibly intelligent on and off the pitch, he is really mature. He is 18 years old but he looks like he is 32 when he is on the pitch. Technically he is really complete. He is also physical, really strong in duels. He’s going to be one of the best midfielders in Europe for the next ten years.”

City are not alone in sensing that ceiling. Lille remain in talks with several clubs, but the Premier League champions are understood to be at the front of the queue as they look to refresh their engine room.

New City manager Enzo Maresca did nothing to cool the speculation when asked about Bouaddi.

“He’s still a Lille player,” Maresca said. “But any new signing, any new player, for sure as soon as they arrive it’s better. Because we’re going to start the Premier League in one week. If they start to work with us as soon as possible, it’s better if they can also understand the way we need to play.”

The clock is ticking. City want him in the building, learning the system, not watching from a distance.

United rebuild continues as Fernandes declared ‘untouchable’

Across Manchester, United’s summer has taken a different shape. Big moves, but with tighter margins.

Michael Carrick has already overseen two significant additions in midfield. Andrey Santos arrived from Chelsea in a £50m deal, followed by Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa after United triggered the Belgian’s £35m release clause. Two signings, £85m spent, and a long-standing problem area suddenly looks more secure.

The need, though, has not vanished.

Casemiro’s departure at the end of his contract has left another gap at the base of midfield. The former Real Madrid anchor has joined David Beckham’s Inter Miami on a free transfer, and United are considering at least one more reinforcement in that zone.

The budget is not bottomless. With money already committed and other areas to address, United are expected to pivot towards cheaper, lower-profile options for their next two signings – a central midfielder and a left-back remain on the wish list.

Carrick likes what he has, but he wants more.

“I think we’ve done really good business and we’ve got really some top, top, top players,” he said. “We’re delighted with that. We always want to improve. We want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that. That never stops.”

One player who will not be leaving is the captain.

Reports in Turkey say Galatasaray are plotting a bold move for Bruno Fernandes as they try to keep pace with the headline-grabbing work of rivals Fenerbahce and Besiktas. The Istanbul club are said to be piecing together a lucrative package for the 31-year-old playmaker.

United’s stance is blunt. Fernandes is not for sale.

Fresh from a record-breaking Premier League assist campaign that dragged United back into the Champions League, the Portuguese star remains at the centre of their project. He is in the final year of his current deal, but the club hold a one-year extension option and have no interest in cashing in on the eve of a new season.

Juventus move for Vicario after Martinez deal collapses

In north London, another saga is gathering pace.

Guglielmo Vicario looks set for a return to Italy, with Juventus stepping up their efforts to take the Tottenham goalkeeper back to Serie A. The 29-year-old watched from the stands as Spurs faced Hoffenheim in a friendly at the weekend, waiting for his future to be resolved.

He has long wanted to go home. Now that wish is close.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Juventus are in direct talks with Tottenham over a loan agreement that would include an option to make the move permanent next summer.

The Italian giants have turned to Vicario after walking away from a deal for Emi Martinez. That move is understood to have collapsed over a gap in valuation between Aston Villa and Juve. Villa, for their part, have already moved to cover themselves, reaching an agreement to sign Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

Arteta and Maresca demand late-window help

While the spotlight falls on marquee names, managers across the Premier League are quietly pushing for the final pieces of their squads.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta cut a pointed figure when asked why there was only one defender among his substitutes. The answer lay in a mix of injuries and a market that has not yet delivered what he wants.

“Well, we know that there are certain areas that, through injuries, we are weaker and we need to strengthen,” he said. “We are trying to do that, we’ve been trying to do that for weeks, so only the right opportunity and the club is able to do it. We will do it.”

The theme is the same in Manchester blue. Maresca’s comments about Bouaddi were as much a message to the board as a nod to Lille. With the Premier League kicking off in a week, he wants his squad settled, his new signings drilled, his ideas embedded.

Everyone knows the window still has weeks to run. For clubs with title ambitions and European demands, it suddenly feels like days.