Manchester City Target Lille Star Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City are pushing ahead with a move for Lille sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the French club’s new head coach Davide Ancelotti confirming negotiations for one of the summer’s standout World Cup performers.

The 18-year-old midfielder has exploded onto the scene over the past few months. He only made his Morocco debut in the build-up to the tournament, then forced his way straight into the starting XI, beginning all but one of their matches on a run to the quarter-finals. On the biggest stage, he looked completely at home.

That surge in form followed a superb club season with Lille. Bouaddi helped drive the French side to third place in Ligue 1 and back into the Champions League, his composure and range of passing turning heads well beyond France’s borders.

Now, Europe’s elite are circling. City, though, appear to be in front.

Ancelotti confirms talks – but digs in his heels

Speaking to Ouest France, Davide Ancelotti did not try to play down the situation.

“Of course, there are negotiations. Many clubs are interested in him,” he admitted, acknowledging that Lille are fielding serious enquiries for their young star.

The numbers underline that interest. A fee of around €100m (£85.5m) has been floated as the figure likely to unlock the deal, a remarkable valuation for a teenager who only broke into senior international football weeks before the World Cup.

Yet Ancelotti was equally clear that Lille are not treating Bouaddi as a player already halfway out the door.

“He is a very, very good player and I hope he will stay with us,” he said. “The season starts next week and I consider him a player at my disposal.”

That line matters. Lille open their Ligue 1 campaign away to Angers on Sunday, and as far as their coach is concerned, Bouaddi remains central to his plans until a contract is signed elsewhere.

Limited minutes, growing questions

The transfer noise grew louder over the weekend.

Bouaddi featured for just 45 minutes in Lille’s friendly against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon. In a pre-season usually used to build fitness, his early withdrawal immediately raised eyebrows in the French media, who questioned whether the club were protecting a prized asset ahead of a potential blockbuster move.

Ancelotti pushed back on that narrative.

“He was physically ready to play and he did play 45 minutes – but that’s only because I have to manage his playing time,” he explained, framing the decision as simple squad management rather than a transfer precaution.

Even so, the pattern is hard to ignore. A World Cup breakout, a Champions League qualification campaign, a nine-figure price tag being discussed, and now confirmation from the head coach that negotiations are active.

City have rarely shied away from paying for the future when they truly believe in a player. The question now is whether Lille’s resolve, and that €100m valuation, will hold once the Premier League champions decide how far they are willing to go for one of the most coveted teenagers in Europe.