Manchester City targets World Cup sensation: Fee a staggering 100 million euros

Manchester City is reportedly making a strong move to sign highly-rated 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from French club Lille. The English club sees Bouaddi, who has garnered significant attention for his performances with Morocco at the World Cup, as a player who can immediately compete for a spot in their squad.

According to reports from The Athletic's David Ornstein, Manchester City aims to finalize the transfer this summer. Unlike some other interested clubs, City does not plan to loan Bouaddi out, indicating their confidence in his readiness for top-level competition. Lille, however, is reluctant to part with one of its prized assets and is prepared to listen to offers but not to let him go easily.

The negotiations are expected to be challenging, as Lille has reportedly set an astronomical asking price of 100 million euros. This high valuation is intended to discourage most interested clubs and strengthen Lille's negotiating position. Bouaddi has been on the radar of major European teams for some time, with Arsenal and Manchester United also having previously contacted his representatives.

Currently, Manchester City appears to be in the best position to secure the transfer. The young Moroccan midfielder now faces a crucial decision regarding his future: he can choose to stay at Lille to continue his development in Ligue 1, or he can move to the Etihad Stadium for a chance to break into one of Europe's elite teams.