Manchester City Are In Talks To Land This Ligue 1 Midfielder: Should Maresca Launch A Move?

Manchester City Are In Talks To Land This Ligue 1 Midfielder: Should Maresca Launch A Move? In a recent post on X , renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Manchester City are in talks to land Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. It has been mentioned that the Mancunian club are eyeing a move to acquire the services of the Moroccan talent this summer. Bouaddi’s Impressive Rise In French Football Bouaddi enjoyed a good run of form at the French club in the previous campaign when he put in a series of impressive performances for them in Ligue 1. The Moroccan talent secured one assist but failed to find the back of the net in 42 matches for Lille last season across various competitions. The 18-year-old is currently among the most talented central midfielders in Ligue 1. Thus, Man City would do well to get a deal done for him in this transfer window. His current contract at Lille will run out in the summer of 2029, which could make it tough for the Mancunian club to sign him on the cheap later this year. HOUSTON, TEXAS – JULY 04: Ayyoub Bouaddi #6 of Morocco looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Should Manchester City Boss Enzo Maresca Launch A Move For Bouaddi? Bouaddi is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to earn possession back for his team in the middle of the park. He usually puts his foot through the ball when required and is a tidy passer as well from midfield. Standing at 1.85m, the Moroccan talent is a strong presence in the air as well. Bouaddi is primarily a box-to-box midfielder but can also operate as a defensive midfielder if told to do so. However, there are some question marks over whether he can adapt to the physical side and high intensity of the Premier League if Man City manage to bring him on board this off-season. We can expect Bouaddi to bring more bite and steel to Enzo Maresca’s midfield. He is good enough to compete for a regular first-team spot at the Etihad Stadium in the coming seasons. At 18, Bouaddi has the potential to be a world-class player in his position someday. He will also help Man City compete across all fronts over the next few years. Therefore, Maresca should consider launching a move to bring the Morocco international to England before the end of this summer transfer window.