Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea have reportedly agreed to Lille's demand to loan back midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for the 2026/27 season to secure an advantage in the race for his signature.
The 18-year-old breakout star has attracted widespread interest from top European clubs following his impressive performances for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup.
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Lille's Dual Valuation Strategy
According to reports from TEAMtalk and talkSPORT, Lille has set two distinct valuations for the teenager.
Clubs seeking an immediate transfer must pay a premium of €100 million or £86 million, whereas those accepting a season-long loan back to the French club can negotiate a reduced fee of around €75 million to €80 million.
Journalist Graeme Bailey revealed the shifting dynamics among the English suitors chasing the highly rated Moroccan international.
"I can exclusively reveal that Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea have all softened their stance and are now prepared to accept a loan-back arrangement if it gives them the edge in the race to sign one of Europe's elite teenage talents," said Graeme Bailey, reporter for TEAMtalk.
The Premier League clubs initially wanted the young midfielder to join their respective first-team squads immediately upon signing.
"All three Premier League giants had initially been keen to integrate Bouaddi into their first-team environments sooner rather than later," said Bailey.
However, competing interests from teams like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain forced the English sides to reconsider their transfer strategies.
"However, sources say they increasingly recognise that agreeing to Lille's request may prove decisive in winning the battle for his signature," said Bailey.
