Arsenal have opened talks with Lille over an £60m deal for 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, whose performance in Morocco’s 1-1 draw with Brazil at the 2026 World Cup has sparked a scramble for his signature. Liverpool are also in negotiations for the teenager, while Chelsea and Paris St-Germain have been monitoring the player who might cost at least £60m, according to sources.
The race for Bouaddi is just one strand of a frenetic summer window. Manchester City have set their sights on Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 23, as a replacement for the departing John Stones. The Toffees are holding out for £70m for the England defender.
“Arsenal and Liverpool compete for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi after Morocco's World Cup draw with Brazil.”
Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, 26, says he will resolve his club future following the World Cup after the Seagulls rejected two bids from Tottenham for the Netherlands international. At the same time, Bayern Munich’s move for PSV Eindhoven’s Morocco striker Ismael Saibari, 25, could be made more difficult after his high-profile goal against Brazil at the World Cup drove up his price.
Roma are set to make a £35m bid for England striker Mason Greenwood, 24, and include a sell-on clause which they hope will convince Marseille to agree to a deal. Meanwhile, Brazil midfielder Ederson was scheduled to have a medical on Sunday as the 26-year-old closed in on completing his move to Manchester United from Atalanta.
Manchester United, who sacked manager Ruben Amorim in January, could make a significant saving on the £15.9m compensation package following his departure if the Portuguese takes over at AC Milan.