Manchester City are reportedly preparing to splash out another nine-figure sum, this time on Lille's teenage midfield sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to English Premier League Index.
The report suggests City are "ready to pay lavish sums" as they look to lock in Bouaddi's long-term future, viewing the young Frenchman as a genuine bet on controlling midfields for years to come. His stock has soared following a breakout at the World Cup, the kind of tournament that can transform a promising talent into one of Europe's most coveted young stars almost overnight.
City's willingness to spend around the €100million mark reflects how highly Pep Guardiola's club rate Bouaddi's potential, even if he remains largely unproven at the very top level. It's understood the club see him as a long-term successor in midfield rather than an immediate fix.
As things stand, this remains a transfer link rather than an agreed deal — but the scale of City's reported interest suggests they mean business.