Man City have signed Anderson - why do they also want Bouaddi?

Those who followed Morocco's recent World Cup campaign will recognise the name Ayyoub Bouaddi. Perhaps those who only took a passing glance will remember him, too. He tends to stand out.

Aside from his throwback curly mop of hair, the way he dominated the big stage with effortless grace over the summer got people talking. The Lille midfielder excelled in his fledgling role at his first major international tournament, particularly noticeable in a group-stage bout with Brazil.

But this was not the first time Carlo Ancelotti found himself ruminating over an opposition player who was "better in the duels" than his own.

Ancelotti's Brazilian midfield was comprised of the experienced Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes, and yet somehow it was Bouaddi that beamed brightest. It struck a familiar chord.

The French-born youngster made his competitive debut for Lille in 2023, just three days after his 16th birthday. On the day he turned 17, he embarked on his full Champions League debut to help his side beat then-European holders Real Madrid. Ancelotti's Real.

That result ended the European giants' 14-game unbeaten run in the competition, as Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham were contained by an "incredible" performance from a player barely anyone outside of France had heard of. He covered more ground than any player on the pitch.

That was the night, as Lille manager Bruno Genesio described it, the precocious young talent "made a name for himself". Ancelotti's praise since has extended as far as to call him "one of the best young players in the world".

Bouaddi's radar has been steadily sounding from then. Scouts have flocked from afar to watch him; Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich among his admirers. But the race appears to have been won by Manchester City as they seek to soften the blow of the likely scenario where Rodri exits this summer.

Bouaddi, still only 18, has proved beyond doubt that his raw potential is somewhat more rarefied than his teenage years suggest. He out-ranked every club team-mate for possession wins (151) last season. His recovery wins per 90 (5.8) were top, too.

As it's understood, Enzo Maresca wants to integrate the Morocco international into his squad immediately, believing firmly in his Premier League readiness given he has already made close to 100 competitive appearances for Lille.