Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly among the prospective suitors vying for 18-year-old LOSC Lille midfield sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi.
According to an update by reputed French journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Ayyoub Bouaddi is the subject of interest from Arsenal. The Gunners are keen on reinforcing their first-team squad by signing a versatile midfielder next year. So, the 18-year-old LOSC Lille wonderkid has emerged as a target for the North London club.
Arsenal will face stiff competition from other high-profile clubs, including Chelsea, for Bouaddi’s services. However, the Premier League table-toppers are “pushing hard” for the Frenchman’s signature. Meanwhile, LOSC Lille will demand around €50 million to part ways with the youngster next summer.
The rise and rise of Ayyoub Bouaddi
Ayyoub Bouaddi has established himself as one of the best young prospects in Ligue 1 since breaking into the first-team squad at LOSC Lille. The Senlis native has spent his formative years thus far in France, starting his youth career at AFC Creil before graduating from the youth division at LOSC Lille. The youngster has already become a regular for the Ligue 1 outfit, having amassed over 1,000 minutes of game time this term.
The 18-year-old midfield sensation has made over 50 appearances thus far for Lille, chipping in with four assists. Meanwhile, Bouaddi’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several European bigwigs. Arsenal and Chelsea are among the prospective suitors vying for the French midfield prodigy’s signature.
Where will Bouaddi move next?
Chelsea’s interest in Ayyoub Bouaddi is understandable. While Enzo Maresca has a stacked midfield unit, Moises Caicedo’s recent red card exposed how the West London outfit can struggle in his absence. Bouaddi has thus emerged as a viable target for Chelsea, as he can be a long-term solution in the middle of the park.
As for Arsenal, the Gunners also have a stacked midfield unit after signing multiple midfielders in the summer transfer window. However, Christian Norgaard is only a short-term solution due to his advancing age, while Mikel Merino will turn 30 next year. So, Bouaddi is an option worth considering for Arsenal. The latest update has revealed that the Premier League table-toppers are “pushing hard” for the Frenchman’s signature.
Meanwhile, LOSC Lille will demand around €50 million to part ways with Bouaddi next summer. With Arsenal “pushing hard” to sign the French midfield sensation, it will be interesting to see if they beat Chelsea to his signature in the coming months.
