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Arsenal have recently been linked with Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is starring at the World Cup for Morocco. However, Manchester City are now also reportedly interested in the player.
Fabrizio Romano posted on X: "Manchester City held initial talks for Ayyoub Bouaddi as potential target for the future. There are 4 clubs involved, PSG not advancing yet having different top priorities. MCFC keen on Bouaddi with possible plan to let him stay at Lille until start of season 2027/28."
In terms of the four clubs involved, it could be any of Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Bayern Munich who also reportedly have Bouaddi on their radar.
The fact that City is willing to let him stay at Lille for next season could be very good for his development. This would likely be Enzo Maresca's side buying him now and loaning him back out. Bouaddi is only 18 years old and may not break into City's lineup right away.
He is a central midfielder who favors playing in a defensive role. City currently has Rodri and Nico Gonzalez as defensive midfield options. Therefore, it is unlikely that Bouaddi would start ahead of either of them.
Arsenal may be able to offer first team opportunites right away
Arsenal currently have Martin Zubimendi as their defensive midfielder. However, they are trying to sign Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United. The Magpies have rejected a bid from Arsenal for Guimaraes, so it would be costly to prize him away from St. James' Park.
Bouaddi could be a younger option to Guimaraes, who can act as an understudy to Zubimendi. If the Gunners are to sign Guimaraes, then the Morocco international may have limited first-team opportunities.
For now, Bouaddi's focus will be on the World Cup with Morocco. He played 90 minutes in their opening two games, helping them draw with Brazil and then defeat Scotland 1-0. He was then rested as Morocco defeated Haiti 4-2. Bouaddi then returned to his country's lineup as they defeated the Netherlands on penalties. The midfielder was replaced by Samir El Mourabet of Strasbourg after 79 minutes in that game.
Next up for Bouaddi's Morocco will be the difficult task of taking on the co-hosts, Canada. Fortunately for Morocco, Jesse Marsch's side will not have home advantage as the match will be played in Houston. Bouaddi will need to be on form in that match if he is to keep his former Lille teammate Jonathan David quiet in this match.
Morocco got to the semi-finals of the last World Cup, which was a fantastic achievement. This was before Bouaddi's time, as in 2022 he was a France Under-16 international. Bouaddi represented Les Bleus up to the U21 level before switching his allegiance.
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