Two of the Premier League’s biggest spenders are circling the same teenager. Chelsea and Arsenal are each preparing bids of around €45 million to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in the January transfer window, setting up a tug-of-war over one of European football’s most coveted young midfielders.
Lille has set a minimum asking price of €70 million for the 18-year-old, which means both London clubs are opening negotiations roughly €25 million short of the door price.
The bidding war that’s already underway
Arsenal already submitted an increased offer of €60 million in June, and Lille rejected that too. The gap between what buyers want to pay and what Lille wants to receive has been the defining feature of this saga.
It’s not just a two-horse race. PSG, Liverpool, Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Juventus have all expressed interest in the Moroccan international.
