Lille President Confirms Transfer Discussions As He Predicts Where Man City Target Will Be Playing Next Season
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Lille president Olivier Letang has said there is a “very high probability” that Man City transfer target Ayyoub Bouaddi will be staying with the Ligue One side this summer.
A whole host of clubs are pursuing the teenager’s signature, including Enzo Maresca’s side, and after refusing to name an asking price, Letang made it clear he is confident of keeping Bouaddi after holding talks with the player about his future:
“I have never spoken about figures, and I won’t start today because I’m not the one who sets them. There are very few clubs capable of signing a player of Bouaddi’s quality at just 18 years old, but what matters most is the overall project, his development path, and finding the best environment for him to continue growing.”
“We extended his contract in December, so he is tied to us until 2029. He’s happy here. I can’t reveal what we discussed after the World Cup, but I’m convinced there is a very high probability that he will stay with us.”
Lille want to keep Bouaddi on loan
Letang was very careful with his words. He didn’t rule out selling Bouaddibut he has signalled to suitors that he wants to keep him next season, which means any deal must include a one-year loan back.
Some clubs are believed to be more open to that arrangement than others. City were originally willing to accede to the request, but there are now suggestions that Director of Football Hugo Viana is keen on snapping up the 18-year-old now.
Get a brand new 26/27 Man City home shirt from Fanatics here
Are Man City willing to spend £85m on the midfielder?
€100m (£85m) appears to be the figure that Lille want for Bouaddi if they are to sell him this summer, and it remains to be seen whether the Cityzens or any other team are prepared to spend that much on a relatively inexperienced player.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are also keen on the Moroccan international, but they are likely to be just as hesitant to match the reported price tag.
Want more news on Man City? Add Man City News as a preferred source on Google
