Manchester City plan to secure the signature of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi with an offer of €100m (£85m).

The 18-year-old has drawn interest from several clubs after his displays for Morocco during the World Cup, and City regard the substantial outlay as a worthwhile long-term commitment despite his age.

Director of football Hugo Viana rates Bouaddi's technical skills and awareness on the pitch, while the club sees no issues with the 6ft 1in player's capacity to handle the demands of English football. Head coach Enzo Maresca intends to bring the player into the senior squad ahead of the next campaign.

Bouaddi featured in five of Morocco's six World Cup matches, among them the 2-0 quarter-final loss to France. That run came after just eight senior caps, following his professional bow for Lille against Ki in a Europa Conference League tie during October 2023. At 16 years and three days old, he became the youngest player to appear in European competition.

Completing the transfer would push City's summer expenditure to £200m across two signings, after they paid £116m to recruit Elliott Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

In separate news, Manchester United have announced the arrival of 35-year-old goalkeeper Karl Darlow, pending registration formalities.

Darlow has signed a two-year contract following his departure from Leeds and will vie for opportunities alongside Senne Lammens. "I am extremely proud to sign for Manchester United - this is a really special opportunity," he said. "Everyone can see what an exciting time it is for the club and I cannot wait to play my part in supporting my team mates - and helping to drive the group forwards."

United's director of football Jason Wilcox added: "Karl has proven his ability to perform at the highest level, his work ethic and determined personality make him a really strong addition to our squad. We are delighted to add a player of his quality."

The goalkeeper brings 279 senior appearances to the club, including 74 in the Premier League.