Man City and Arsenal join queue for Morocco wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City and Arsenal are among a host of Europe’s leading clubs monitoring Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi after the 18-year-old’s eye-catching displays for Morocco at the World Cup, according to the BBC.

Bouaddi outshone the experienced midfield pairing of Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes during Morocco’s tournament opener against Brazil, and BBC Sport reports that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain are also keeping close tabs on the teenager as he continues to impress in North America.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Bouaddi features on City’s list of targets, with the Etihad club having already agreed a club-record deal to sign Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson. Adding Bouaddi to the midfield mix would give Pep Guardiola’s side a long-term option amid uncertainty over Rodri’s future, with the Spaniard entering the final year of his contract.

A star in the making

Former Morocco international Hassan Kachloul told BBC Sport: “Anyone who has watched him at Lille knows his level. He is regarded as a top prospect. Against players like Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes, he showed not just quality but personality – a kind of positive arrogance. He had confidence, a great aura and a strong presence on the pitch. He thrives in that environment.”

Kachloul added that Lille may have little choice but to sell to the highest bidder “if the player wants to move”, with the Ligue 1 club reportedly having set an asking price of between £69 million and £86 million for their prized asset.

Born in Senlis, just north of Paris, Bouaddi made his Lille debut aged just 16 years and three days and has now made 96 appearances for the club. He only earned his first senior Morocco cap in May but has already started three matches at the World Cup, helping the Atlas Lions reach the last 16, where they face Canada on Saturday.

Numbers that stand out

On his tournament debut against Brazil, Bouaddi recorded more touches (87) and completed more accurate passes (60) than any of his team-mates. Last season he also led the way among players aged 18 or under across Europe’s top five leagues, playing the most minutes (2,329) and making the most appearances (30) – ahead of the likes of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.

He also topped the rankings in his age bracket for regaining possession, with 151 recoveries, 59 tackles and 27 interceptions, underlining his energetic, all-action approach in midfield.

Moroccan football journalist Amine el Amri told BBC Sport that Bouaddi’s rise carries risk as well as promise. “It is natural that a player that is having such a good World Cup is being linked with big clubs,” he said. “However, that makes it a delicate period in his development because he needs to keep his feet on the ground and not to be taken out of his context – he is 18 years old.”

El Amri went further, suggesting Bouaddi’s ceiling is exceptionally high. “He has the potential to be one of the best midfielders ever in the game, not just for Morocco,” he said. “At first glance, he reminds you a lot of Sergio Busquets. He is very tall but also not very muscular… What he does best is keep his cool when he has the ball and when he is pressing. He doesn’t commit a lot of fouls, which is what made Busquets a complete midfielder.”

El Amri also noted a shift in Premier League recruitment thinking. “Premier League clubs are now targeting younger players, it is not just about experience, it is how good you are in terms of footballing skill,” he said. “It is also about physicality so I think he has got all those attributes.”

Read more: Morocco’s World Cup rise built on royal investment ahead of Canada last-16 tie