Lille president Olivier Letang believes that a summer switch for Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi should exceed the fees paid for Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali.

Bouaddi has been one of the standout performers for Morocco at the World Cup, while also impressing with Ligue 1 side Lille before travelling to North America with his nation. 

The 19-year-old is only the fifth African teenager to make four appearances at the World Cup, and has helped the Atlas Lions reach the quarter-finals of the competition. 

Since making his debut for Lille in October 2023, Bouaddi has amassed 96 appearances across all competitions, registering four assists in that time for his team. 

He became the youngest player to make 50 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille, breaking the record previously held by Eden Hazard, and is of interest to several top clubs. 

The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have reportedly been linked with a move for the midfielder, who only signed a contract extension with Lille until June 2029 last December. 

Letang knows he has an extremely valuable asset on his hands and will not let him leave unless an enormous bid comes in, pointing at the £116m fee paid by Manchester City for Anderson as well as the reported £100m Tottenham have spent to sign Tonali from Newcastle United. 

Lille value Bouaddi between £69m and £89m, as per reports, and when asked if those figures were accurate, Letang told Eurosport: "How to answer that question? Have I spoken, brought up the subject, given a figure? No, never.

"You have to look at his level. How much have players like Anderson or Tonali been sold for who are much older, but without room for improvement?

"So you have an idea of ​​the value of Ayyoub, who has a unique profile at only 18 years old."

Letang added that Bouaddi is already surpassing expectations, even comparing him to some other French sporting greats. 

"Ayyoub made his international debut in the Morocco-Brazil match," Letang added. "That's not nothing.

"On the other hand, despite being 18, Ayyoub is a boy who has already played matches at a very high level.

"He's played in Ligue 1, played in Champions League campaigns, the Europa League, the Europa Conference.

"He's the youngest player to have played in a European Cup match. He's very young but already with significant experience.

"In those three years with us, he's been extraordinary in many ways.

"He's one of the true sporting figures like Victor Wembanyama, Paul Seixas, Leon Marchand or Kylian Mbappe."