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Manchester City have responded to the public transfer demands of head coach Enzo Maresca by closing in on a major deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to several reports.
Following Rodri's departure to Barcelona earlier this month, City's manager was asked how he could possibly build a functional midfield without the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner. Maresca's answer was straightforward: Sign his successor.
"We try to find the new Rodri, it is what it is," he said.
"[Before] Rodri arrived here, he didn't win the Ballon d'Or, he didn't win the Champions League, he didn't win the Club World Cup. He joined the club then he went on to achieve many great things."
As Maresca was eager to highlight, City have an impressive history of replacing seemingly irreplaceable players with smart signings. "I was thinking on Thursday night," the Italian manager reflected, "when David Silva was here, everyone was worried and Kevin [De Bruyne] arrived. When Sergio [Agüero] was here, everyone was worried [when he was going to leave] and Erling [Haaland] arrived. Fernandinho? Rodri arrived.
"When they leave, you need to be good at recruiting the next one. They are all similar, David, Kevin, Fernandinho, Rodri, Erling—there is one more—it is normal, it is change, it is not a problem, go again and try to do the right things."
Bouaddi has now been entrusted with continuing that impressive recruitment legacy.
The Staggering Numbers Behind Man City's Proposed Deal for Bouaddi
City's interest in Bouaddi had been circulating even before he delivered standout performances for Morocco at this summer's World Cup. However, those displays prompted Lille to set a hefty asking price for the 18-year-old talent, which City initially seemed unwilling to match. It remains unclear whether the heavy Community Shield loss to Arsenal last weekend played a role, but Maresca has since received backing in the transfer market.
As RMC Sport's Fabrice Hawkins first reported on Sunday, just minutes before City's Premier League opener against Bournemouth got underway, a full agreement between the two clubs had been reached. Bouaddi will cost a minimum of $111 million (£81.3 million, €95 million at the time of the agreement) with an additional $5.8 million available in potential add-ons.
This fee not only represents the third most expensive signing in City's history, but also shatters Lille's club record for their biggest sale ever.
City broke their own record with the $153 million signing of Elliot Anderson earlier this summer but can afford such significant expenditure after recouping funds from Rodri, who cost Barcelona $87.8 million, and Tijjani Reijnders ($70 million to Al Qadsiah). Prior to acquiring Bouaddi, City had the smallest net spend of any Premier League club this summer. The teenage defensive midfielder may not be their last signing of the window.
Man City's Transfer Window Nowhere Near Over
There is an expectation that City could still be in the market for another midfielder. In addition to Rodri and Reijnders, Bernardo Silva also departed this summer. BBC Sport report that hope in the pursuit of Chelsea's Enzo Fernández has not been entirely abandoned, while Bournemouth's Alex Scott, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and even Liverpool captain Alexis Mac Allister have been mentioned as potential alternatives.
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While the prospect of further signings remains somewhat uncertain, there are several more departures yet to be confirmed. Savinho's proposed move to Tottenham Hotspur is expected to be followed by another Spurs bid for Omar Marmoush. Even Nico González, one of the few midfielders who actually featured last season, is reportedly been given permission to leave for Newcastle United this summer.
"I think it's a similar situation for all the clubs, all the fans, because you are waiting to do things," Maresca explained.
"Probably the normal thing in the transfer window is that you have to wait until the last week, because all the clubs try to keep players until the last week and then sell for more money. It's normal. Again, when the transfer window closes and we have all the squad here for sure it will be different."