Manchester City close in on Ayyoub Bouaddi signing

Manchester City are reportedly closing in on the signing of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the 18-year-old's medical now described as imminent.

City have been working on the deal in recent weeks and negotiations have accelerated, with Lille manager Davide Ancelotti already publicly confirming talks over the Morocco international.

Fresh reports from France now suggest the transfer has reached its final stages.

Bouaddi has developed rapidly at Lille, establishing himself as a regular despite still being only 18.

His performances have attracted interest from several clubs, but Manchester City appear to have moved ahead of the competition after stepping up negotiations in recent days.

Ancelotti confirmed earlier this week that talks were taking place.

“Of course, there are negotiations,” the Lille manager said. “He’s a very, very good player and I hope he stays with us.”

Despite Ancelotti's desire to keep the midfielder, a departure now appears increasingly likely.

According to Sport.fr, City and Lille have moved into the final stages of negotiations, with only a few steps remaining before the transfer can be completed.

The strongest indication that an agreement is close comes from the claim that Bouaddi's Manchester City medical is imminent.

Sport.fr describes the operation as effectively “a done deal, or almost”, with the medical tests and official announcement among the remaining steps.

Provided there are no late complications, Bouaddi could therefore complete his move to the Etihad within the next few days.

No transfer fee has been revealed in the latest report, although Lille are expected to receive a significant amount for one of their most highly-rated young players.

The French club have developed a strong reputation for generating major transfer fees from emerging talent, and Bouaddi could soon become their latest lucrative departure.

Bouaddi would give Enzo Maresca another highly promising midfield option while continuing City's strategy of securing elite young talent before their value rises further.

At 18, the midfielder already has considerable first-team experience with Lille and has also broken into the Morocco setup.

His immediate role at City remains to be seen, but the reported progress suggests the Premier League club are now confident enough to move towards the final formalities.

Bouaddi is expected to undergo his Manchester City medical before the remaining paperwork is completed. If those final steps proceed without problems, an official announcement should follow shortly.

Could Ayyoub Bouaddi become a major part of Manchester City's midfield under Enzo Maresca?