Manchester United are reportedly ready to rival Manchester City and Arsenal in the race to sign one of Europe’s most highly sought-after teenage talents.
According to Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport, United are eyeing Lille sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi amid a breakout World Cup campaign. The Moroccan midfielder has been one of the best performers during the international tournament and his exploits haven’t gone unnoticed.
The Red Devils’ transfer chiefs are in the process of overhauling Michael Carrick’s midfield. Replacing Casemiro is the priority, and Bouaddi is likened to their previous top target, Elliot Anderson, who joined City for £116m.
Man Utd Set Their Sights on Bouaddi
Bouaddi is in high demand and Manchester United join City, Arsenal and Bayern Munich in tracking the 18-year-old. He lit up Ligue 1 last season and has earned widespread acclaim for his performances at the World Cup.
Lille’s stance is that they prefer a sale which includes a one-year loan so he can continue developing with the French club. They are demanding €80-100m to part with the Moroccan wonderkid.
One club that is out of the picture is Paris Saint-Germain, who are not focused on signing a midfielder. The Parisians have instead prioritised a new winger and Yan Diomande has snubbed Liverpool in favour of a move to the Parc des Princes.
United’s interest in Bouaddi comes at an intriguing time as the club searches for a Casemiro replacement. They were also ready to offload Manuel Ugarte until the Uruguayan sustained a knee ligament injury while representing his country at the World Cup.
Bouaddi Could Transform Carrick’s Midfield
Carrick spent years controlling the tempo in United’s midfield, and he will likely have a huge say over his club’s midfield rebuild. Bouaddi possesses a profile that the Red Devils’ head coach will like, extremely gifted on the ball and a physical presence that could suit the Premier League.
Bouaddi’s defensive abilities are extremely impressive, and he is strong in the air thanks to his six-foot-one-inch frame. While he’s not the best going forward, he can leave that to Kobbie Mainoo, who could benefit from a partnership with the Moroccan.
The issue United have is that they are one of many top European giants keen on the ‘World Cup prodigy.’ Once a bid is made for the midfielder, you can imagine an auction will ensue, reaching Lille’s desired €100m valuation.