Conflicting signals over Bouaddi move
Manchester City and Lille are telling two very different stories about the future of Ayyoub Bouaddi, leaving supporters to pick through the scraps for clarity.
According to TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey, City have taken “a significant step” towards signing the 18-year-old, with personal terms already agreed between the parties.
And yet, across the Channel, Lille's public positioning suggests matters are far from settled. The two clubs' accounts of proceedings are so far apart that it is difficult to know which version reflects reality.
What is clear is that City have identified a young midfielder they rate highly, and they have made their move. Whether that move lands before the window closes is another question entirely.
All of this, of course, is playing out with Real Madrid's pursuit of Rodri continuing to run in parallel. The noise around the Etihad's midfield shows no sign of quietening.