Manchester City are closing in on the signing of highly-rated Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi after reaching a full verbal agreement with the player, according to reports from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.
Bouaddi, who had previously been linked with Liverpool, is also attracting interest from several other clubs. However, the reported transfer fee of around £85 million has made the deal difficult to justify for the Reds.
With Liverpool expected to strengthen multiple areas of the squad this summer, spending such a huge amount on one midfielder could limit their ability to pursue other priority targets, including Bradley Barcola.
Meanwhile, Liverpool youngster Trey Nyoni continues to make a strong case for more first-team opportunities. The 19-year-old impressed once again during the pre-season victory over Leeds United, playing a crucial role in Florian Wirtz’s goal with an excellent cross-field pass to Jeremie Frimpong before the final assist.
Nyoni’s performance against Leeds included:
• 40/42 passes completed
• 4 defensive contributions
• 8 passes into the final third
• 2 recoveries
• 1 touch in the opposition box
• Won 1 of his 3 ground duels
His influence in midfield was evident, with Liverpool looking less effective after he was substituted at half-time.
While Bouaddi and Nyoni are different types of players, the teenager’s impressive development gives Liverpool plenty of reasons for optimism. If Nyoni continues on this trajectory, he could save the club a significant transfer fee while providing valuable depth ahead of the new season.
