Manchester City closing in on £85m Bouaddi to soften blow of Rodri’s expected exit

Manchester City are closing in on signing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, with the midfielder’s expected arrival clearing the path for Rodri to join Barcelona. The 18-year-old has agreed personal terms with City, but the club are still finalising the deal with Lille valueing Bouaddi at €100m (£85m).

City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, wants to integrate the Morocco international into his first-team squad immediately. City meet Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday and open their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on 23 August.

after newsletter promotion

Barcelona are confident of landing Rodri from City, but will have to return with an improved offer after an initial €45m bid was rejected last week. The sale of Ferran Torres, who is of interest to Paris Saint-Germain, would finance Rodri’s purchase. City are all but resigned to the sale of the 30-year-old, who has a year left on his contract.

If the Bouaddi deal can be completed, he would join Elliot Anderson, who arrived last month from Nottingham Forest for £116m, in a new-look midfield, which has lost the experience of Bernardo Silva.

Manchester United, meanwhile, are interested in the Leicester teenager Louis Page. United, who face competition from Arsenal, are hopeful of a deal for the 18-year-midfielder, with Page believed to favour a transfer to Old Trafford.