Manchester City have agreed a deal in principle worth 100m euros (£85.6m) to sign 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
An agreement for the player join Enzo Maresca and improve City’s midfield quality, with Bouaddi now set to complete his protracted move to England with Lille accepting an initial fee of £81.4m, plus £4.2m in add-ons.
Having sold midfielders Rodri to Barcelona in a £65m deal and Tijjani Reinders to Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah for £52m, City have prioritised central midfield as an area to strengthen.
They remain interested in Chelsea‘s Enzo Fernandez but it remains to be seen whether a deal can be struck.
They have already added England’s Elliot Anderson for £116m from Nottingham Forest.
City host Bournemouth in their Premier League opener on Sunday, having lost last weekend’s Community Shield to Arsenal.
