Liverpool 'closely monitoring' Ayyoub Bouaddi with 25-year-old likely to leave Anfield

Liverpool are interested in signing Lille and Morocco star Ayyoub Bouaddi this summer as he shines at the World Cup, sources have told Football Insider.

Bouaddi has made waves at the World Cup over the last 10 days after a stellar performance in Morocco's 1-1 draw with Brazil.

The 18-year-old central midfielder won nine ground duels and completed 60 passes in their opening game at the tournament, then delivered another impressive 90 minutes in their win over Scotland.

He has emerged onto the radar of several top clubs over the last few months following some fine form in Ligue 1 for Lille.

As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider's Transfer Insider podcast, Liverpool are the latest Premier League club to join the race for Bouaddi's services as they eye a new midfield signing.

New manager Andoni Iraola wants to bolster his depth in the middle of the park, and has arrived on Merseyside with a great reputation for developing young stars.

Curtis Jones, 25, looks set to leave the club as Inter Milan plot a move, with Bouaddi now high up on their list of targets to replace him in Iraola's squad.

Bouaddi only turned 18 in October, but started 28 Ligue 1 games last season and emerged with standout dribbling, duels won and recovery statistics compared to other midfielder in the division.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: "Liverpool are also closely monitoring him and have been tracking him for a while as they do look to bring in a new defensive midfielder this year.

"Bouaddi would tick a lot of boxes for Andoni Iraola's side as well. Lille will just be hoping that his price tag continues to rise every passing week with his performances for Morocco.

"He's going to be a player in huge demand, and you'll have all the big boys in the Premier League who'll be interested if they get any encouragement from Lille that he could possibly leave this summer."

Bouaddi was asked about a potential move to the Premier League last week, to which he responded: "I'm really happy to know that some clubs are interested in me, but for now I’m focused on the World Cup with Morocco, and we will try to give everything to do our best."

Liverpool are not the only English side keeping tabs on his progress, after I also revealed in the latest Transfer Insider podcast that Arsenal and Chelsea have scouted him in the last few months.

Sources have exclusively told Football Insider that Aston Villa are interested in Bouaddi too, as they prepare to return to the Champions League.