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  1. get involved

    Get Involved - 'Bouaddi should wait a couple of years'published at 12:14 BST

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    Ayyoub Bouaddi is better at Lille. He gets regular first team minutes and is still young. He should wait a couple of years, which is hard when a big club comes calling, but it might be better for him in the future.

    Noah, Edinburgh

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    Get Involvedpublished at 12:03 BST

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    I'm a Chelsea fan and if we get anywhere near £100m for Neto we will undoubtedly be the greatest sellers the sport has seen. Realistically, he's a £60m player.

    Jeuel, London

  3. Chelsea want nearly £100m for Pedro Netopublished at 11:54 BST

    Nizaar Kinsella
    BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

    Pedro Neto runningImage source, Getty Images

    Chelsea value Pedro Neto at nearly £100m amid reported interest from Saudi club Al-Hilal.

    It's a reflection of the high fees across the transfer market, including the £117m Chelsea paid to Aston Villa for Morgan Rogers and the £145m asking price from Paris St-Germain for winger Bradley Barcola.

    The Portugal international, 26, started against Real Sociedad on Saturday when others linked with moves away were completely left out.

  4. Postpublished at 11:50 BST

    While we're on the topic of big-money deals, it seems there could be a few more in the Premier League, both arrivals and departures, before the transfer window closes on 1 September...

  5. Where would Bouaddi rank among Man City's most expensive signings?published at 11:38 BST

    Manchester City

    Man City have spent big in recent seasons and the signing of midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi would immediately see him become one of the most expensive purchases in their history.

    1. Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest - £116m
    2. Jack Grealish from Aston Villa - £100m
    3. Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille - £85.6m
    4. Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig - £77m
    5. Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg - £64.9m

    Fees correct according to transfermarkt.com

    Ayyoub BouaddiImage source, Getty Images
  6. get involved

    Get Involved - 'Bouaddi shouldn't be going to City'published at 11:34 BST

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    Bouaddi shouldn't be going to Manchester City. He won't play regularly there and could easily see his development stall. He would be better off spending a couple of years at a club where he can play every week, and then, if he still proves to be a special talent, that would be the time to make a huge move.

    Sifr No Mae, Norfolk

  7. get involved

    Get Involved - 'Grealish needs to be playing in a central role'published at 11:26 BST

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    Grealish is still a solid option for plenty of teams, especially those in mid-table or pushing for European qualification. My issue is that he clearly needs to be playing in a central role rather than out on the wing. I really like him, and I'd rather see him back at Villa or Everton than sitting on our bench.

    Harry, Manchester

  8. Could Bouaddi succeed where Grealish fell short?published at 11:20 BST

    If Ayyoub Bouaddi is to join Manchester City, he will hope his career at the Etihad proves more successful than that of Jack Grealish.

    England international Grealish joined City from Aston Villa for a then British-record transfer fee of £100m in 2021.

    It took the attacker time to settle at the Etihad. However, he was an integral part of the team that won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 2023.

    Since then, though, Grealish's career has been on a downward trajectory and he spent last season on loan at Everton.

    Although he will always be remembered by the City faithful for his contributions during the 2022/23 campaign, it is fair to say Grealish never consistently hit the heights expected of him after signing in 2021.

    Bouaddi will hope he can become a more consistent performer for City.

    Jack GrealishImage source, Getty Images
  9. What next for Jack Grealish?published at 11:13 BST

    Emlyn Begley
    BBC Sport reporter

    Jack GrealishImage source, Getty Images

    Jack Grealish could be given the chance of a fresh start under a new manager at Manchester City in Enzo Maresca.

    Following his substitute appearance in Sunday's Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, the Italian did say that Grealish will get games if he stays and impresses.

    But it still feels more than likely he will end up leaving.

    Grealish could yet return to Everton, where he spent last season on loan. The Toffees opted not to make the deal permanent for City's rumoured valuation of £50m this summer.

    But with one year left on his supposed £300,000-a-week deal, and with Grealish likely to be a substitute at best, City are surely going to be open to lower offers, or even another loan move.

    Could he even go back to his boyhood club Aston Villa, who are in the Champions League this season?

    BBC Radio WM presenter Daz Hale said: "There is a real romance of the return of the prodigal son. You always felt it was written at some point he would come back.

    "It is a Champions League season again for Villa, they need to have strength in depth with a deeper talent pool."

    Or could an overseas move for Grealish hold some appeal? Several media outlets claim that Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are looking at him.

  10. Only three remain from City's Champions League successpublished at 11:08 BST

    If Rodri completes his move to Barcelona, only three of the players who started Manchester City's Champions League final victory over Inter Milan in 2023 would remain at the club.

    They are Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland.

    That number could dwindle further in the coming weeks, with Grealish - who spent last season on loan at Everton - continuing to be linked with a move away from the Etihad.

    Manchester City starting XI in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter MilanImage source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - 'Rodri is in a league of his own'published at 11:03 BST

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    I don't think anyone can replace Rodri. He is in a league of his own. Man City will have to change how they play and hope that Enzo Maresca can work some magic. I can't see them paying that much for Enzo Fernandez. Maybe they will try for Martin Zubimendi.

    Guy, Nottingham

  12. Man City 'need someone in that midfield that's dominant'published at 10:59 BST

    Ellen White
    Former England striker on 5 Live

    I think it's a transition, with a new manager.

    Rodri was huge in the way they played, [he controlled the] build-up and I think that's a huge loss for them.

    It's obviously understanding what Maresca wants, and it's tough to understand that philosophy [so quickly].

    A lot of the players have been in the World Cup as well, so they're coming late into the pre-season.

    I think Ruben Dias actually said it's a bit of a transition for him after the game [3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield]. So, if the players feel it as well, that's going to transition into the pitch.

    I think they need time and then they need someone in that midfield that's dominant, knows how Man City play, builds the rhythm and connects the team.

    Rodri was that for them and that's a huge loss for City [as a whole] and a huge impact on their midfield as well.

  13. Bouaddi no stranger to making headlinespublished at 10:56 BST

    Ayyoub BouaddiImage source, Getty Images

    Ayyoub Bouaddi is no stranger to making headlines.

    In 2023, at just 16 years and three days old, he made his senior debut for Lille in a Europa Conference League match.

    Since then, Bouaddi has gone from strength to strength, establishing himself as a key part of an exciting Lille side that has finished second and third in Ligue 1 over the past two seasons.

    In total, the central midfielder has made 96 senior appearances at club level. That figure is expected to surpass 100 before he turns 19 in October.

    As if his success in Ligue 1 were not enough, he was also one of the breakout stars of this summer's World Cup, featuring in all five of Morocco's matches as they progressed to the last-16 stage.

    It is little wonder he is being linked with a big-money move to Manchester City?

  14. get involved

    Get Involved - Is Bouaddi ready or one for the future?published at 10:52 BST

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    So Izzy Christiansen says that who Manchester City bring in to bolster their midfield during the transfer window could be the key to their transition under new manager Enzo Maresca.

    But would it be wrong to expect 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi to shoulder such a burden?

    Is the prodigious Morocco talent a player for now, or one for the future?

    Send us your thoughts or questions for our reporters using the Get Involved button...

  15. Midfield 'most interesting area' of Man City transition under Marescapublished at 10:44 BST

    Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca watches from the touchline during the Community ShieldImage source, Getty Images

    Izzy Christiansen believes the evolution of Manchester City's midfield under new manager Enzo Maresca will be "interesting" to monitor following their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in Sunday's Community Shield.

    "In Maresca's post-match interview he sounded calm and collected, which is the managerial style he has displayed at Chelsea and Leicester City," said Christiansen on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

    "He knows the job that he has and if they can transition whilst still qualifying for Europe or being title contenders then that's huge success.

    "Regardless of what is happening with Rodri, the midfield is the most interesting area of the team. He finished with Nico Gonzalez, Rayan Cherki and Rico Lewis which didn't look right.

    "He was probably protecting Elliot Anderson in terms of minutes, and Phil Foden didn't see the game through, but I question how he is going to evolve that midfield without Rodri.

    "There will be eyes on them until the transfer window shuts to see who they replace Rodri with, should he depart, and that will be key."

  16. Bouaddi plays as a 'deep-lying conductor'published at 10:34 BST

    Sami Mokbel
    BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

    Ayyoub Bouaddi playing for LilleImage source, Getty Images

    Ayyoub Bouaddi impressed at this summer's World Cup - starting all of Morocco's five matches in their run to the quarter-finals - after a starring role in Lille's Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024 announced him on the big stage.

    He functions as a deep-lying conductor and would complement summer signing Elliot Anderson, who is comfortable as a box-to-box midfielder as well as the number six role he plays for England.

    Bouaddi has played 88 times for Lille since making his debut in October 2023, three days after his 16th birthday, and helped them finish third in Ligue 1 last season.

  17. get involved

    Get Involved - 'Man City need someone like Bouaddi'published at 10:30 BST

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    The most important thing is creating the environment for a player to develop into something like Rodri. He's levels above any other midfielder, so we'll need someone like Ayyoub Bouaddi with the raw attributes to work with. It will be a while before we're solid in midfield again.

    Harry, Manchester

  18. Man City enter advanced talks for Bouaddipublished at 10:23 BST
    Breaking

    Sami Mokbel
    BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

    Manchester City have entered into advanced talks with Lille over a move for Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi.

    The Premier League side want to conclude the midfielder's transfer this week following their agreement to sell Rodri to Barcelona.

    It is understood Lille value the 18-year-old at 100 million euros (£85.6m).

    It remains to be seen how a successful move for Bouaddi would impact City's interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, but well-placed sources maintain that City boss Enzo Maresca retains a strong interest in the Argentina midfielder.

    Ayyoub BouaddiImage source, Getty Images
  19. Postpublished at 10:22 BST

    While you ponder that, let's head back to Manchester City...

  20. get involved

    Get Involved - Do Spurs need to replace Vicario?published at 10:21 BST

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    What do you think about Guglielmo Vicario's proposed loan move to Juventus?

    A good move for both Tottenham and the player, or would you rather the Italian goalkeeper stayed to fight for the number one spot?

    If you believe Spurs need to replace him, then who should they go for?

    Send us your thoughts using the Get Involved button.

    And remember, you can also send in a question for the BBC Sport reporters.

    Thanks.