Both Manchester United and Arsenal have made contact with representatives of LOSC Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to The Athletic.
The Red Devils have been heavily active in the transfer market this summer after finishing third in the Premier League under Michael Carrick last campaign.
Manchester United have made overhauling their midfield a top priority following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury this season.
The club have already secured the signings of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to bolster their engine room heading into the new campaign.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that United are planning to add a third midfielder this summer, with defensive-minded players being explored as options.
The Athletic report that United have been holding talks with Bouaddi’s representatives over the last 12 months, underlining just how serious their interest in the player is.
However, Manchester City have also been in contact with the young midfielder’s camp, creating a fierce three-way battle for his signature this summer.
Lille are reportedly prepared to sell Bouaddi if they receive a lucrative offer, though a valuation of around £85m could cause both Arsenal and United to cool their interest.
Manchester City are keen to integrate Bouaddi immediately into their squad after already spending a huge fee on Elliot Anderson in this window.
Arsenal’s interest in a new midfielder has been driven by Christian Norgaard’s poor debut campaign and Martin Zubimendi’s inconsistent performances throughout last season.
The Gunners have also been heavily linked with Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimarães, suggesting they are exploring multiple options to strengthen the heart of their midfield.
Bouaddi is naturally a right-footed defensive midfielder but is also capable of performing efficiently in a box-to-box role, offering managers significant tactical flexibility.
The Lille youngster is regarded as a highly talented player with the potential to develop into a top-class midfielder over the coming years at the highest level.
Some clubs are reportedly open to purchasing Bouaddi and allowing him to remain at Lille on loan for a further season before fully integrating him into a new squad.
Whether Arsenal or Manchester United ultimately firm up their interest with a concrete bid for Bouaddi remains to be seen as the summer window progresses.