Manchester United are pushing to sign a brilliant midfielder. Liverpool can one-up them, though.
Mateus Fernandes may end up at Manchester United. That's a real blow because he's a fantastic player and one we'd love to see at Liverpool.
The Guardian are among those reporting that a £80m offer is on the way to West Ham United. We pitched the idea of signing Fernandes before his move to the Hammers, after a great debut campaign for relegated Southampton.
Instead, it seems Liverpool will miss out here. Though, maybe that's for the best - there's a superior option here.
Fernandes is unquestionably one of the best young defensive midfielders around. He's brilliant and proven, to an extent, in the Premier League.
But we wouldn't have him down as the young defensive midfielder. That's Ayyoub Bouaddi, who put in an extraordinary display on his World Cup debut against Brazil on Saturday evening.
The 18-year-old is a sensational talent, capable of playing a composed role against Brazil of all teams, completing 91% of his passes and winning his tackles. There is little doubt that Bouaddi can be the best in the world in his position. He's already up there.
So we'd say that Liverpool can one-up United here. Yes, they may get Fernandes but Bouaddi, coming from Lille in Ligue 1, likely costs similar and is the biggest talent.
The Reds' need for a defence-first midfielder is absolutely there, too, and we think spending the money on Bouaddi would represent the best possible spend in the position. One that would immediately have Liverpool forgetting about Fernandes to United.
Lille Career and Performance
As of 14 June 2026, Ayyoub Bouaddi is an 18-year-old central midfielder for Lille OSC. Since becoming the youngest player to debut in a UEFA club competition back in late 2023, the elegant playmaker has developed into a vital engine for the French side. The 2025/26 season served as his definitive breakthrough campaign, as he registered 34 Ligue 1 appearances and established himself as one of Europe's premier teenage talents. His exceptional vision and composed distribution in the center of the pitch helped Lille secure a top-four finish and qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
International Status and World Cup Involvement
Bouaddi is currently an integral part of the France Under-21 squad, having opted to continue his international development within the French youth setup. Although he was heavily monitored by senior manager Didier Deschamps following his domestic success, Bouaddi was not included in the final 26-man senior France squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Elite clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid and Juventus, are reportedly preparing substantial summer bids to tempt Lille into selling their prized midfield prodigy.
