Arsenal is reportedly cooling its interest in Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with claims of a deal being close debunked by trusted sources. Despite past contact and a strong appreciation for the young talent, Lille's desire for Bouaddi to stay another season clashes with Arsenal's immediate midfield needs.
While initial reports suggested Arsenal might accept Lille's terms for Bouaddi, including a potential loan back or a 2027 signing, this information has been thoroughly checked and is not confirmed. Sources indicate that Arsenal's recruitment team has shifted focus to other targets, though circumstances could change if Bouaddi's situation evolves.
Instead, Arsenal has recently made contact regarding two other midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes and Alex Scott. The pursuit of Guimaraes from Newcastle has already seen a bid of approximately £55m-£60m rejected, and enquiries for Bournemouth's Alex Scott were met with a "not for sale" response.
Arsenal is looking to sign a midfielder now and is unwilling to wait until 2027 for Bouaddi. Manchester City appears more amenable to Lille's request for Bouaddi to spend another season in Ligue 1. Acquiring the 18-year-old immediately would demand a significant fee, leading Arsenal to believe better value can be found elsewhere.
The club remains cautiously optimistic about potentially meeting Newcastle's valuation for Guimaraes with a second bid, though none has been made yet. The path to signing Scott seems more complicated, with Bournemouth determined to keep him and Chelsea also showing strong interest.
Despite a potentially inflated transfer market, Arsenal is sticking to its strategy of not overspending. The club recently opted against pursuing Jeremy Doku, who is expected to join Manchester City for over £10m, deeming the price excessive. Arsenal's focus remains on securing signings that offer clear value for money, showing no signs of panic despite other clubs' early summer spending.
