Manchester City is on the verge of signing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, as the 18-year-old midfielder prepares to step in following the anticipated departure of Rodri to Barcelona. Bouaddi has reportedly agreed to personal terms with City, with the club negotiating a deal valued at €100m (£85m) with Lille.

New manager Enzo Maresca aims to integrate Bouaddi into the first-team squad immediately. City is set to face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday and will kick off their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on 23 August.

Barcelona is optimistic about securing Rodri, although they will need to return with a more competitive offer after having an initial €45m bid turned down last week. The sale of Ferran Torres, who is drawing interest from Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to finance Rodri’s transfer. City appears to be preparing for the inevitability of losing the 30-year-old midfielder, who has just one year remaining on his contract.

If the Bouaddi transfer materializes, he would join Elliot Anderson, who was acquired from Nottingham Forest for £116m last month, in a revamped midfield that has lost the seasoned Bernardo Silva.

In related news, Manchester United is pursuing Louis Page, a teenager from Leicester, amidst competition from Arsenal. United is hopeful of clinching a deal for the 18-year-old midfielder, who reportedly prefers a move to Old Trafford.