Arsenal launch first move to land £40m star under noses of PSG and Chelsea

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Arsenal have already made contact with the entourage of Ayyoub Bouaddi. Gunners chief Andrea Berta is leading discussions for the 18-year-old Lille midfielder.

The north London side are ready to make an offer as soon as next month, according to reports in France. They want to get ahead of their rivals and are prepared to make a €45million (£39.4m)offer for the French Under-21 international.

They are not alone in being willing to make such a move , with Chelsea reportedly being willing to pay a similar fee. The Premier League duo are said to be the clubs most advanced for any deal.

PSG , Manchester City , Manchester United , and Liverpool are also closely monitoring Bouaddi. Lille have no intention of allowing their starlet away on the cheap, however. They have already extended Bouaddi's contract until 2029 and want a fee in excess of €50m (£43.8m) to consider a departure.

A summer transfer had been expected, but it appears Arsenal want to move ahead of the pack.

“I have extended until 2029 and next year is still far away," Bouaddi said after signing his new deal. "I am focused on this season and we have things to fight for.

"As I also said to the president (Olivier Létang), at the end of the season, there will be a choice to be made, and anything can happen. We don’t know what will happen."

Mikel Arteta has previously admitted his side would be ready to do business in January. "We always have to be prepared," Arteta said earlier this month.

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"I mean, the moment that we have an option to touch the squad, to bring to the squad or to protect the squad, depending on what happens, I think we need to be open, for example, one what’s going to happen from here till the window is closed as well, it's football. So we don’t know, but we’re certainly going to be alert and we know where the risk can come in terms of the squad, and be ready just in case we have to do something."

Arsenal have stepped up their recruitment of young talent in recent times. They have tied down twin stars Edwin and Holger Quintero .

The Gunners confirmed that they reached pre-contract agreements with the pair, who play for Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle. The duo will link up with Arsenal in 2027.

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