Manchester City are keen on signing Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is their next priority target after bringing in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
City have identified the 18-year-old as a long-term addition and have already opened talks with Lille over a potential transfer.
Their interest in the youngster is not believed to be connected to Rodri’s future. Club officials believe a deal can be completed regardless of whether the Spain international remains at the Etihad beyond the summer transfer window.
If the move is completed, Bouaddi could either become part of new manager Enzo Maresca’s senior squad this season or return to Lille on loan for another year to continue his development in Ligue 1.
𝑨𝒚𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒃 𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊 💎 pic.twitter.com/fYRbHXVLll
— LOSC (@losclive) March 17, 2026
What do we know for now about Rodri leaving City this summer?
Interest in Rodri has increased after his performances for Spain at this summer’s World Cup. Real Madrid are expected to make an approach for the 30-year-old midfielder, who has one year left on his current contract, but City still hope to agree fresh terms.
Rodri suffered a back injury just after the World Cup and has had minor surgery to fix the issue, but it is not expected to get in the way of any move this summer, with the player expected to recover quickly.
When interviewed by reporters this week, Maresca was unwilling to be drawn into the topic of Rodri’s future and whether he will leave the Etihad this summer.
“It’s just speculation at this moment,” the City manager said. “Rodri had a surgery last Monday, everything was fine. Now, some time off.
“The main focus for him when the season finished was the World Cup, now he enjoys some rest. We haven’t had any conversations [about the contract].
“Any manager in the world wants Rodri because he’s a top player. So it’s important for me, for the club and for everyone.”
Our Rodri lifting the #FIFAWorldCup trophy 🏆🥹 pic.twitter.com/dexeuPC7oT
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 19, 2026
Are City the leading contenders for Bouaddi?
Bouaddi has emerged as one of Europe’s most highly rated young midfielders after his performances for Morocco at the World Cup.
The Lille midfielder has been linked with Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and City. There is the possibility of a situation where Madrid sign Rodri and City bring in Bouaddi, with him and the £116m signing Anderson effectively replacing the Spaniard in the midfield.
It is unclear how much interest PSG still have on Bouaddi but the French and European champions have had little transfer activity so far in terms of incomings, and reports linking them to Bouaddi appear to have cooled.
Arsenal are heavily linked with Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, who would be an experienced alternative to Bouaddi, and with manager Eddie Howe having left the Tyneside club, there is a strong possibility of a deal being done this summer, which would practically give City a free run at Bouaddi.
