Davide Ancelotti, the head coach of Lille, has publicly acknowledged that Manchester City are in active discussions to sign midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi — while making clear he hopes the deal does not go through this summer.

Ancelotti's candid admission puts the transfer firmly in the spotlight, with the young Bouaddi emerging as one of the most coveted prospects in French football. Manchester City's interest signals their intent to strengthen their midfield ahead of the new campaign.

Gakpo closes in on Tottenham switch

Elsewhere in the transfer market, Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo is understood to have agreed personal terms with Tottenham Hotspur, as the Reds continue to reshape their attack ahead of the upcoming season.

Liverpool have also quietly reduced their asking price for midfielder Curtis Jones, who has been the subject of prolonged talks with Inter Milan. The move suggests the club are now willing to accelerate a deal rather than allow negotiations to drag on further.

Osimhen plays it cool on Arsenal links

Victor Osimhen, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, offered a measured response to the speculation — effectively telling reporters to wait and see how events unfold rather than confirming or dismissing the interest from the Premier League champions.

Celtic's Japan international Reo Hatate has attracted attention from Greek side Panathinaikos, who are reportedly preparing a substantial pay rise in an effort to lure the midfielder away from Parkhead.

Mudryk targets Chelsea comeback

Mykhailo Mudryk has spoken publicly about the intense preparation he undertook during his absence from Chelsea, describing a rigorous individual training regimen that kept him in peak condition in anticipation of a return to the club.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that a collection of Europe's top clubs threatened to boycott future editions of the Club World Cup unless FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandoned his FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme — an ultimatum that reportedly landed just hours before the plan was scrapped.