Former Manchester United star Wes Brown believes the club should pursue a deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The 18-year-old had an impressive Ligue 1 campaign with Lille and has continued to shine for Morocco at the World Cup.
This has contributed to plenty of transfer interest, and Brown has urged the Red Devils to consider a formal approach.
In an interview with Prime Casino, Brown said that he would be in favour of United signing Bouaddi.
He added that the Lille wonderkid could be tempted to join if he is assured of a regular starting role.
Brown said: “I am in favour of Man Utd signing Ayyoub Bouaddi. Young players like Ayyoub Bouaddi have really performed at the World Cup, and you have to do more research and look at their club games. But I would be in favour of him coming to Man Utd.
“At a World Cup, it is about how you react on the big stage and how you perform. I have no problem signing a player after the World Cup if they have shown they are capable of playing well. It is a tough challenge, both mentally and physically.
“Having that clear place in the team could attract Bouaddi, 100%. You have to look at how you are going to fit in as a team. If you are signed after a good World Cup, you will have the chance to start or at least get a good few opportunities to show what you can do from the beginning of the season.
“Ultimately, you still have to perform on the pitch. If you are not playing well, you might sit out for a bit, and it might take more time to break into the team. But you would definitely think you have a great chance of starting.”
United may not pay over the odds for Bouaddi
The youngster was on the radar of Premier League clubs last season, but he ended up penning an improved contract at Les Dogues without a release clause.
Since then, his stock has steadily risen. His performances at the World Cup have further enhanced his reputation, and securing a deal won’t be easy this summer.
Lille are prepared to sell Bouaddi for £60-69 million, provided they can retain him on loan next season.
On the other hand, the Ligue 1 outfit will demand £86m for a transfer without any obligation.
In our view, the price tag could prove prohibitive towards United pursuing a deal for Bouaddi.
The club were reluctant to spend £85m upfront on Mateus Fernandes. Their final offer to West Ham United was around £80m upfront with £5m in add-ons.
This paved the way for Tottenham Hotspur to land his signature, and United now need to search for another midfielder to add to their ranks alongside Ederson.
Fernandes was far better than Bouaddi when it came to key passes, progressive passes and duels won last season. The pair were quite similar in ball carrying ability and possession won.
Hence, United could resist the prospect of landing Bouaddi as Fernandes’ alternative for £86m. We believe a deal could be done if Lille accept an immediate transfer for a reduced fee of £60m plus some add-ons.
Stats from DataMB
