Man City and Arsenal handed Ayyoub Bouaddi transfer update with coach admission

Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has been linked with a move to Manchester City and Arsenal during the summer transfer window

Lille boss Davide Ancelotti has outlined his intentions to keep Ayyoub Bouaddi at the club despite reported interest from Manchester City and Arsenal. The 18-year-old midfielder has seen his future become the subject of intense speculation ever since his impressive run of performances with Morocco at the World Cup.

Reports in recent weeks have claimed that both City and the Gunners have an interest in signing Bouaddi, with suggestions that Lille have placed a €100million (£85.6million) valuation on the teenager.

Saturday saw Lille face Everton in a pre-season friendly, where Bouaddi made a substitute appearance at half-time at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

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Ancelotti - son of footballing great Carlo - has confirmed that Bouaddi is attracting interest from a host of clubs, but outlined his determination to keep the Morocco international with the Ligue 1 outfit.

"Bouaddi is a very good player. He is available [in terms of his fitness], and he played 45 minutes. But that is only because I have to manage his minutes," Ancelotti said after Lille's draw with Everton on Saturday.

"Next week we start the season, and I consider him as an available player for me.

"Of course, there are negotiations. There is interest from so many clubs. He is a really, really good player, and I hope that he is going to stay with us!

"What makes him so special? He has a huge personality.

"He is incredibly intelligent on and off the pitch, he is really mature. He is 18-years-old, but he looks like he is 32 when he is on the pitch.

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"Technically, he is really complete. He is also physical, really strong in duels. He's going to be one of the best midfielders in Europe for the next 10 years."

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Bouaddi, with recent reports suggesting that a move to Man City could be the most likely, with the teenager viewed as a possible replacement for Rodri.

Lille chairman Oliver Letang hinted earlier this month at the fee that the club would demand for Bouaddi this summer.

"When I see [Elliot] Anderson move to Manchester City for £116m and [Sandro] Tonali to Tottenham for £100m, and they don’t have the potential for development that Ayyoub has because he possesses unique qualities," he said.

"I have a price in mind, and we'll see what happens."

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