Ayyoub Bouaddi's World Cup debut against Brazil has pushed him into a crowded transfer race, with Arsenal said to be leading the chase and Liverpool and Manchester United also watching. He played the full 90 minutes in Morocco's 1-1 draw with Brazil, which is exactly the kind of showing that gets clubs moving early. Lille are said to want €70 million (£60.4m) for the teenager.
Why Arsenal are being treated as front-runners
The clearest reason Arsenal keep coming up in this story is the length of their interest. Reports cited in the original coverage say they have kept regular contact with Bouaddi's entourage since January last year, and Fabrizio Romano added that Arsenal and Liverpool have already met with his agents multiple times since January. Romano also said Paris Saint Germain have had him on their list for months, although midfield is not their priority this summer.
That is a strong position for Arsenal to be in, especially when the competition is already this wide. Bouaddi himself told metro.co.uk: "I'm really happy to know that some clubs are interested in me. But for now I'm only focused on the World Cup and we will try to give everything to do our best."
Why United are still part of the conversation
Gordon Strachan's point is less about who is fancied most right now and more about who United should not ignore. He said, "There will be a lot of options out there rather than just Adam Wharton or Elliot Anderson. They can both see through-passes, and it's important that you have that quality now."
He also said he would be surprised if Manchester United are not in the title race next season under Michael Carrick, but only if they sign at least two midfielders, a striker, a wide man and a centre-half. That is a fairly blunt shopping list, and it tells you why a player like Bouaddi stays on the radar even when Arsenal appear to be ahead.
The fee talk is still messy. Some reports put Lille's demand at over £60 million, others go as high as £80 million, so the price point is clearly still being treated as part of the battle rather than a settled figure.
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