Both Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly ready to meet a key condition set by Lille as they chase the signature of teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Football Insider has reported that both English clubs are willing to allow Lille to retain Bouaddi on loan for another season following any potential transfer this summer.
Lille have placed a valuation of £100 million on the 18-year-old, making him one of the most expensive teenage targets in the Premier League this window.
The development comes after Morocco’s World Cup campaign ended with a 2-0 quarter-final defeat to France in Boston on Thursday, freeing up attention around the country’s top players.
Fellow Moroccan international Ismael Saibari has already agreed a move to Bayern Munich, and Bouaddi could be the next high-profile Moroccan to secure a big-money European transfer.
The willingness of Arsenal and Liverpool to accept the loan-back condition suggests both clubs are serious about landing the midfielder, despite the unusual arrangement of paying a large fee without immediate access to the player.
Arsenal’s interest is perhaps somewhat surprising given the Gunners already possess relatively young and high-quality options in midfield, with their primary transfer focus understood to be on signing a left winger.
Liverpool appear the more natural fit for Bouaddi, with the club needing significant depth and quality in central midfield heading into the next phase of their rebuild.
His strong physique, defensive work-rate, ball carrying, and line-breaking passing ability would make him a solid fit in Liverpool’s double pivot, potentially alongside Dominik Szoboszlai.
Andoni Iraola’s impact in his first season at Liverpool will also likely play a role in determining how aggressively the club pursues a midfielder of Bouaddi’s profile and price tag.
Whether either club is ultimately prepared to commit £100 million for a player who would not immediately join their first-team squad remains the central question surrounding this deal.
The loan-back condition is not unusual for moves involving young talents at selling clubs, but at such a high transfer fee, it represents a significant financial gamble for whichever club blinks first.