Midfield rebuild takes shape
The scale of Manchester City's summer surgery in midfield has been laid bare this week. Rodri has gone, Bernardo Silva is following him out of the door, and Tijjani Reijnders has already departed. That is a lot of experience to lose in one window, and the club's response has been decisive.
Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Lille midfielder, is the man earmarked to fill the void left by Rodri. Sources have told Football Insider that City have beaten a host of rivals to the Morocco international's signature, with talks between the two clubs accelerating over the last six weeks.
Bouaddi has been the club's priority midfield target all along, even before Rodri's £65.4million move to Barcelona was confirmed earlier this week. The teenager's breakout World Cup performances appear to have convinced Maresca that he is the right fit for a side in transition.
"They are rebuilding that midfield, Man City, with Bernardo Silva leaving in summer, Rodri's gone, Tijjani Reijnders has gone as well," one source explained on the Transfer Insider podcast.
So far, Elliot Anderson has been the only new face through the door. Bouaddi would change that in a significant way.
Rivals left behind
Liverpool and Arsenal both held talks with Lille over Bouaddi, but City moved ahead of their rivals weeks ago. The player has made it clear he prefers a move to the Etihad, which tends to simplify these negotiations.
There remains work to be done. All parties are waiting for the green light from Lille and for a fee to be agreed — former Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider last month that City were closing in on signing Bouaddi for less than Lille's initial asking price.
Once that is sorted, the player will travel to Manchester to finalise the deal. It feels like a formality at this stage.
And it may not be the last midfield arrival. City have looked at other options and will reassess once Bouaddi is signed, though they cannot sign everyone they have been linked with. Priorities will have to be set.