Manchester City are closing in on a deal to sign highly rated Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, while Elliot Anderson is set to complete his move to Manchester city.
City have been relatively quiet in the summer transfer window so far, with their confirmed arrivals not expected to make a significant impact on the first-team plans next season.
Mathys Detourbet has joined from sister club Troyes but has immediately moved on loan to Monaco for the season. Goalkeeper Pierce Charles is also set to continue his development away from the Etihad, with a loan spell at Championship side Queens Park Rangers.
City are also understood to have won the race for highly rated youngster Jeremy Monga, beating Arsenal to his signature.
Manchester City could now deal another blow to Arsenal in the transfer market, with Bouaddi emerging as their latest target.
Arsenal had previously held initial talks over a potential deal for the Lille midfielder, with Mikel Arteta keen to strengthen his midfield options ahead of the new season.
However, reports in Italy suggest City have now moved into pole position for the Morocco international. The club are understood to have reached an agreement in principle with Bouaddi over personal terms, with the midfielder reportedly set to sign a contract running until 2031.
A transfer fee remains to be agreed with Lille, although club chairman Olivier Letang has indicated that it could take more than £100m to secure the midfielder.
Letang said: “When I see Anderson move to Manchester City for £116m and Tonali to Tottenham for £100m, and they don’t have the potential for development that Ayyoub has because he possesses unique qualities.
“I have a price in mind, and we’ll see what happens.”
Meanwhile, Anderson is expected to finalise his move to Manchester City from Nottingham Forest following England’s exit from the World Cup.
City confirmed an agreement had been reached with Forest, with the 23-year-old having completed his medical in Kansas while on international duty with England.