Man City agree Bouaddi deal and finalise £116m Elliot Anderson move
Manchester City are set to significantly overhaul their midfield by reaching an agreement for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and finalising a £116m transfer for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson.
The Premier League champions have beaten Arsenal to agree personal terms with the highly-rated Morocco international until 2031.
A transfer fee with the Ligue 1 outfit is yet to be finalised for the teenage midfielder.
However, the French club’s chairman Olivier Letang has indicated that a figure in excess of £100m will be required to secure his services.
Letang demands premium fee
The Lille executive pointed to recent inflated market valuations when discussing his prized asset.
“When I see Anderson move to Manchester City for £116m and Tonali to Tottenham for £100m, they don’t have the potential for development that Ayyoub has because he possesses unique qualities.”
“I have a price in mind, and we’ll see what happens.”
Anderson completes medical
Meanwhile, the incoming Nottingham Forest playmaker is poised to officially join Pep Guardiola’s squad.
The 23-year-old recently exited the World Cup with England and has already passed preliminary medical examinations in Kansas.
A club statement confirmed that the final formalities of the lucrative move will be completed upon his return to the United Kingdom.
Focus shifts to youth
The Etihad club’s earlier summer business had predominantly focused on securing emerging talent for the future.
Goalkeeper Pierce Charles has been loaned to Queens Park Rangers for development, while new recruit Mathys Detourbet will spend the season at Monaco.
The Manchester side also successfully outmanoeuvred Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to secure the signature of coveted youngster Jeremy Monga.