Liverpool’s interest in Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has ramped up this week.
The Reds have held talks with Bouaddi’s camp ahead of a potential transfer worth somewhere in the region of £60m.
Still only 18, the Ligue 1 gem is raw and somewhat inexperienced, but he has all the makings of a top midfielder who can thrive in a number of roles, which is exactly what Liverpool’s midfield department needs right now.
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What type of player is Ayyoub Bouaddi?
Despite still only being 18, Bouaddi has already notched 96 senior appearances for his current team, suggesting a maturity beyond his years.
He has primarily featured as a deep-lying midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system. But Bouaddi has a lot of facets to his game, and is able to excel defensively as well as when it comes to progressing the ball.
Recent comments from Olivier Giroud showcased the all-round nature of his game well, comparing his Lille teammate to all of Sergio Busquets, Patrick Vieira and N’Golo Kante.
Giroud explained: “He is not yet at Busquets’ level technically, but he has some of those skills.
“He may still lack some of Vieira’s physical power, but he will grow, become stronger and develop.
“He is a complete player and can perform several roles. He moves everywhere on the pitch. He is a little like Kante.”
Ayyoub Bouaddi makes up for the weaknesses of Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones
In comparison, a number of Liverpool’s current midfield options fall down when it comes to work rate, passing and general fitness.
For example, during the 2025/26 season, Jamie Carragher expressed concern about Alexis Mac Allister struggling the more games go on.
Bouaddi does not have that problem, given that, like Kante, he is able to perform at the highest level possible for a full 90 minutes.
Similarly, Curtis Jones’ inability to release the ball quickly hindered Liverpool at times last season, but as Bouaddi is being compared to one of the greatest passers of all time, Busquets, he would be a major upgrade on Jones.
Finally, while Ryan Gravenberch was perhaps the Reds’ best midfielder last term, Steven Gerrard thinks the Dutchman should play further forward and urged his former side to sign a more defensive midfielder to allow that to happen.
Well, Liverpool may well have found the perfect man to grant Gerrard’s wish, with Bouaddi operating in a similar way to two of France’s best-ever defensive-minded midfielders, Kante and Vieira.
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