The Premier League champions have made the Lille midfielder one of their top priorities to strengthen their midfield this summer, working hard in recent weeks to convince the French club to sell one of European football's most highly rated young talents.
Manchester City have reportedly agreed personal terms with the 18-year-old, with the Morocco international having given his own approval to a move to the Etihad Stadium. What remains is an agreement between the clubs, with Lille said to be pushing for a fee closer to €100m while City hope to finalise a deal worth around €90m fixed, with performance-related bonuses on top.
Negotiations have now entered their final phase, with City working hard over recent days to find common ground with Lille and an agreement between the two clubs understood to be close.
English club executives are said to be increasingly optimistic about finalising the operation, which could become one of the biggest transfers of the closing weeks of the window. Lille have known for some time that keeping hold of their prized asset would prove difficult, with Bouaddi, who made his senior debut at an exceptionally young age, having emerged as one of the continent's most sought-after midfielders and attracted interest from several of Europe's leading clubs.
City's interest has intensified in particular because of the probable departure of Rodri, with the club looking to line up a long-term successor in central midfield.
Barring a late change of course, the transfer should be completed soon, with the final details currently being discussed between the parties but all indications now pointing towards Bouaddi joining Manchester City.
For Lille, the roughly €100m recovered in the deal would then need to be reinvested in strengthening their own midfield.