For Manchester City, Bouaddi appears to fit a well-established pattern.
When a coach speaks openly about talks, the situation is usually beyond casual scouting. It does not mean a transfer is close, but it does suggest City’s interest has moved into a more active phase. The key question now is whether that interest becomes a formal push before the window tightens.
Elsewhere, the update says Cody Gakpo has agreed personal terms with Tottenham ahead of a possible summer move, while Curtis Jones is reportedly attracting interest from Inter Milan after Liverpool lowered their asking price.
Those are two different cases, but they point in the same direction:
Another report says Tottenham are heading into their league opener after an unbeaten pre-season and a 3-0 win over Hoffenheim, so interest in Gakpo would fit a club still adding depth despite positive momentum.
Reo Hatate is also reportedly wanted by Panathinaikos. That feels like a move worth watching. Hatate has the profile to interest clubs chasing control in midfield, and a switch could offer him a more central role.
The next storyline is clear: whether City turn Bouaddi talks into a bid, and whether Liverpool’s evolving plans around Gakpo and Jones trigger a wider late-window shuffle.