Manchester City have reportedly taken a huge step forward in the race to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi.

The 18-year-old's name was on everyone's lips during the World Cup, where he dazzled, particularly in Morocco's opener against Brazil.

Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain have all been monitoring the teenage midfielder.

But Fabrizio Romano has reported that Manchester City have agreed personal terms with Bouaddi, who is contracted to Ligue 1 side Lille until June 2029.

If City can get the deal over the line, it'll be their second midfield signing of the summer after they paid a club-record fee of £116m for Elliot Anderson.

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According to Spanish radio network Cadena Ser, who have spoken directly to Rodri's agent Pablo Barquero, Real Madrid made Rodri an "irresistible" offer shortly after Spain's World Cup triumph.

Talks began just days after the tournament, with Rodri's camp praising the courtesy, class and respect shown by the club throughout the negotiations.

According to the report, everyone at Real Madrid, from president Florentino Perez to chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez, worked to make the deal happen and made it clear they were serious about signing the midfielder.

They had put everything on the table to get the deal over the line but despite positive discussions over the past two weeks, Rodri has made the personal decision to accept another offer, says the radio network.

Cadena Ser add that Real Madrid were informed of Rodri's decision on Friday and chose to end the process in order to avoid prolonging uncertainty, while thanking the player for the respectful way the negotiations were conducted.

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On Friday, Manchester City rejected an opening offer of £38.5m from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri.

City are open to selling the Spaniard, but would demand more than £60m.

According to Sport - in Spanish, external, Barcelona have made an increased bid of £51.4m.

The 30-year-old enters the final year of his contract at Etihad Stadium and is yet to sign a new deal, with speculation rife about his future this summer.

It looked like Real Madrid would be his next destination but La Liga rivals Barcelona are now leading the race after sources told BBC Sport on Thursday that the club had the player's approval to open negotiations with City. The offer was made on Friday.

Barca sources had initially told BBC Sport there were no guarantees any deal would be made but the situation now looks to be developing.

The club said on Friday they are in ongoing conversations with the player's representatives and later made their opening offer.

BBC sources say talks with Real have now ended.

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So much to chat about today.

Crystal Palace and Everton have agreed a swap deal for Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil.

Liverpool are closing in on signing Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan from Barcelona.

Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing for Manchester City midfielder Rodri and his move to the La Liga champions.

Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has taken to X to share a message with his Uruguay teammate Ronald Araujo, who is close to joining the Reds on loan.

Before a deal has been officially announced, Nunez wrote a social media post telling Araujo he is glad that he'll be experiencing the Merseyside club's "special" fans.

Image source, X

Image source, Getty Images

Over the weekend BBC Sport revealed Liverpool are close to signing Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan from Barcelona.

The deal includes an option to buy Araujo, who is expected to have a medical on Sunday.

The 27-year-old centre-back has helped Barca win La Liga in three of the past four seasons, and ended last season as club captain.

Araujo is under contract until 2031 but only made 11 league starts last season, with Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi emerging as their preferred central defensive pairing.

Liverpool were looking to strengthen their defence after Ibrahima Konate left the Reds to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.

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On Saturday Middlesbrough signed Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old Czech spent last season on loan in the Championship with Bristol City and made 41 league appearances.

Vitek didn't make a competitive appearance for Manchester United but did feature for them in pre-season friendlies this summer.

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Elsewhere over the weekend, France international Lucas Digne completed a move from Aston Villa to European champions Paris St-Germain.

The 33-year-old left back, who joined Villa from Everton in 2022, spent three years with PSG at the start of his career.

He returns to the club after eight years in England, following PSG's decision to activate a £8.5m release clause in his contract.

Digne is also the third senior departure from Villa Park this season, following the exits of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea and Youri Tielemans to Manchester United.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Chelsea have sold Trevoh Chalobah to Italian club Como 1907 for £31m, the first of a number of expected departures from Stamford Bridge.

The club have largely completed their incoming transfer business for new manager Xabi Alonso, but their focus has now turned to reducing the size of the squad.

Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is also expected to leave, with a loan move to partner club Strasbourg set to be completed within the next 48 hours. A further 10 to 15 departures are expected in the coming days.

Available for loan: Guiu, Wiley, Kellyman, Mheuka, Walsh, Kavuma-McQueen, Kendry Paez.

Available for sale/uncertain futures, with desired fees for some players in brackets: Badiashile (£30m), Disasi (£25m), Guiu (£25m), Datro Fofana, Delap, Jackson (£65m), Slonina, Gusto (£75m), Fernandez (£120m), Emegha, Mudryk, Neto, Essugo.

Image source, Getty Images

Italian club Como signed defender Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea in a deal worth more than £30m on Sunday.

It means the centre-back, who has two senior England caps and was a late call-up to their World Cup squad, leaves his boyhood team after nearly 20 years, having joined Chelsea as a child.

The 27-year-old signed a five-year contract with Cesc Fabregas' side, who secured Champions League qualification by finishing fourth in Serie A last season.

Surely the biggest transfer over the weekend was Arsenal signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle for £75m.

The 28-year-old Brazil midfielder signed a four-year deal with the option of a further 12 months, and called the move one of the "toughest decisions" of his life.

Guimaraes joined Newcastle when they were in relegation trouble in January 2022.

He became their first captain in seven decades to lift a major domestic trophy after they defeated Liverpool in the 2025 Carabao Cup final.

Sunday 9 August

Lucas Digne [Aston Villa - Paris St-Germain] £8.5m

Trevoh Chalobah [Chelsea - Como] £30m

Saturday 8 August

Bruno Guimaraes [Newcastle - Arsenal] £75m

Sasa Lukic [Fulham - Ipswich] Undisclosed

Radek Vitek [Manchester United - Middlesbrough] Undisclosed

Mitchy Ntelo [Yverdon-Sport - Aberdeen] Undisclosed