Manchester City plan immediate Ayyoub Bouaddi debut in Community Shield final

Manchester City are reportedly preparing to move quickly for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with new manager Enzo Maresca keen for the 18-year-old Morocco international to be involved as soon as Sunday’s Community Shield final against Arsenal.

Bouaddi is said to have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester City, although negotiations between the Premier League club and Lille are still continuing. Lille value the teenager at €100m (£85m), a substantial fee for a player of his age but one that reflects the high regard in which he is held across Europe.

Maresca is understood to want Bouaddi integrated directly into the first-team squad rather than allowing the midfielder a lengthy adjustment period. Sources close to the situation say the new City boss “wants to bring the Moroccan international into his squad without delay”.

The proposed move forms part of a wider restructuring of the Manchester City squad. The club are now almost resigned to selling Rodri, with Barcelona applying pressure to sign the Spain international. Barcelona’s opening offer of €45m was rejected last week.

Any agreement for Rodri appears to depend on Barcelona returning with a substantially improved bid, as well as a reshaping of their squad involving Ferran Torres. The possible departure of Rodri would leave City with further work to do in midfield, where Bouaddi could join Elliot Anderson as part of a changing group.

That area of the team has already been affected by the departure of Bernardo Silva, whose exit represented the loss of an experienced figure. Bouaddi’s potential arrival would therefore form part of a broader transition rather than simply adding another young player to an established squad.

The timing of the negotiations is significant. Manchester City face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday, before beginning their Premier League campaign away to Bournemouth on 23 August.

Maresca appears keen to accelerate the process and have Bouaddi involved immediately, despite the fact that discussions with Lille have not yet been concluded. The valuation placed on the midfielder underlines the scale of the deal being considered, while the reported agreement with the player suggests City have already made progress on personal terms.

For now, however, the transfer remains dependent on an agreement between the clubs. City’s plans for Bouaddi are closely linked to the anticipated movement surrounding Rodri, with the midfield set for a major overhaul before the start of the new season.