Manchester City reportedly change plan with Moroccan talent

With Enzo Maresca’s contractual issues with Chelsea put to bed at the end of last month, the 46 year old will be hard at work as he prepares for his first season in charge at the Etihad Stadium having returned to the club for a third time – now as Pep Guardiola’s replacement.

It has really been a slow summer so far on a domestic football front and the transfer window owing to the distraction that has been the first ever triple hosted World Cup competition held out in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.

But deals are beginning to go through and City have already secured the capture of England international Elliot Anderson, having agreed a £116 million fee with Nottingham Forest, and Maresca begins rebuilding options following the departures seen with existing contracts expiring.

There will undoubtedly be further incomings and outgoings in the next few weeks as August’s big kick off nears, and one of the latest claims to feature on the speculation rumour mill concerns Ayyoub Bouaddi.

City have been linked with the talented youngster for a while and much like Virgin Bet’s casino offering, sometimes you have to take your chance and roll the dice.

Recent reports have City apparently informing his agents that Maresca plans to bring him straight into his first team squad now, and not loan him straight back to French Ligue 1 side Lille, as was originally understood.

The eight capped Moroccan international is considered to be one of the hottest properties on the European market, and interest in the 18 year old has only intensified following his performances at the 2026 World Cup where he featured five times, including in their defeat to France at the quarter final stage.

In the game against France he became the youngest ever African player to make five World Cup appearances at the tender age of just 18 years and 280 days.

If the reports are to be believed, the club have now subtly changed original plans, and the new direction will obviously not involve Sandro Tonali who City had already stepped away from prior to him completing his move to Tottenham, or former Newcastle midfield colleague Bruno Guimaraes given their insistence on the kind of fee that they are looking for as he is just not valued that highly.

With it already being suggested discussions were ongoing with Lille for Bouaddi, a longer term view was held where he would remain with them for 12 months to continue to grow in experience to aid development.

And in believing he could become a lynchpin of the side for the next generation, it sounds like staff are now confident that he can make an impact when needed, whilst also getting the game time that enables him to reach his full potential.

If this change in plan is true, City fans will be waiting to see if it alters the discussions on the price as Lille will obviously need to replace him far sooner than the later they were initially negotiating.

If the plan has not changed fans can expect earlier confirmation if there is anything in this one.