Morocco World Cup sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi has chosen his next club, deciding to join Manchester City despite links with Manchester United. City have already been busy in the summer transfer window, splashing out £116million on midfielder Elliot Anderson alone, but they are now moving to further improve their midfield.

United also find themselves in need of a new midfielder as they look to add a third midfield signing to the signings of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Michael Carrick still needs to replace Casemiro with a dominant pivot, and Bouaddi was one of the serious links, with the 18-year-old having regularly dominated against more senior opponents at the World Cup.

Man City win Bouaddi race

Burt Granofsky/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA

Bouaddi now looks to have landed his Premier League move, now set to join Manchester City. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported: “Ayyoub Bouaddi and his camp have now reached an agreement on personal terms with Manchester City. #MCFC expected to seal the deal with Lille as next step, already advanced as Bouaddi preference would be to join City NOW — rather than in 2027.”

Bouaddi is currently with Lille, but still only 18 years of age, City may fel as though the midfielder is better off playing regularly where he is now, rather than potentially on the bench at the Etihad Stadium. While Bouaddi was a sensation in the World Cup, international tournament football is typically of a lower standard than top-end club football. United would likely feel as though they have missing out on Bouaddi is a blow, but they do not appear to have pressed on with their interest. The midfielder is expected to cost around £86million, and United are going to prioritise a player who is ready to make a big difference now if they are going to spend that sort of money.

Man City’s spending so far this summer

• Elliot Anderson – £116m
• Mathys Detourbet – £21.4m
• Jeremy Monga – £10m
• Pierce Charles – £3m

Bouaddi is a luxury City can afford, and Man Utd cannot

via Reuters

Rio Ferdinand called for United to sign Bouaddi this summer. He said: “I would go and get Bouaddi, the 18-year-old midfielder. 100 per cent I’m taking him, building stuff around him.” But United need a ready-made Casemiro replacement, while City can afford to sign for the future having already signed Anderson, who will likely replace Rodri in the heart of their midfield, with the Spaniard seemingly on his way to Barcelona this summer.

Enzo Maresca has a particular talent in working with young players and developing them into first-team players, which will also be an attractive point for Bouaddi, who has been described as ‘unique’ by Lille president Oilivier Letang.

After winning a championship at a New Jersey course he owns, the question of just how good Donald Trump is at golf has been on everyone’s lips recently.

The US president is a keen golfer, with how frequently he finds himself playing a round often a source of ridicule from his detractors. His golfing abilities have also been a source of debate, with some praising his abilities, and others suggesting he’s a cheat.

Now, one of Trump’s friends – and a UFC star – has broken cover to offer insight into just how good he really is.

What People Say About Donald Trump’s Golfing Abilities

How good Donald Trump is at golf seems to depend on who you are asking.

The 80-year-old owns and has developed a number of courses through the Trump Organization, with several hosting GA and LPGA events. He often uses it as a channel for diplomacy too, playing with the then Prime Minister of Japan, the late Shinzo Abe, which helped the pair become close. He allegedly has a handicap as low as 2.8, too.

But sportswriter Rick Reilly has written an entire book on Trump’s supposed status as a cheater around the golf course. In that, he claims Trump earned the nickname of ‘Pele’ owing to caddies getting so used to seeing him kick his ball back into the fairway.

However, those that have played with him seem to have been impressed. South African Ernie Els said he saw Trump make a hole-in-one back in 2022 as they played a round at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. “He hits the ball better than I’ve seen any,” he said.

Bryson DeChambeau is another on record for claiming Trump to be a “really good golfer.” The 32-year-old and two-time Major champion added: “He stripes it down the middle of the fairway and has good iron game and putts it pretty well.”

The president is often found playing rounds with sports stars and celebrities, with even England captain Harry Kane speaking positively of his ability.

Now, one sports star has gone a step further, offering a detailed assessment of Trump’s golfing ability.

UFC Star Shares Round of Golf With Donald Trump

Trump is an “amazing golfer”, according to UFC welterweight Bo Nickal.

The US president invited Nickal to come and play golf with him after his fight at UFC 290. The main event that night saw Alexander Volkanovski defeat Yair Rodriguez by TKO, with Nickal opening the main card and defeating Val Woodburn by knockout.

His performance clearly caught Trump’s attention, who later invited him to play a round of golf alongside NFL legends Lawrence ‘LT’ Taylor and Ottis ‘OJ’ Anderson. Appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Nickal recounted the experience and drew on his take on Trump as a golfer.

“Him and LT were playing for a thousand bucks a hole or something. Trump, I golfed with him; the dude’s an amazing golfer,” said Nickal. “I couldn’t believe it, how good he was. Every fairway, right down the middle, hit every green, making all his putts.”

Nickal explained that after Trump had won the first nine holes “pretty easily”, the president found himself tied with Taylor going into the 18th.

“It was like it all came down to this last hole,” he continued. “And they both hit great drives, and LT hit like a good approach shot, and Trump gets up there. He’s probably 150 yards from the green, and he sets up, just stripes it straight at the pin.”

Nickal said Trump didn’t even watch his shot land. He just went back to the cart and sat down.

Nickal has established himself as one of Trump’s favourite fighters. This was evidenced at UFC Freedom 250, where the welterweight embraced Trump after his TKO win over Kyle Daukaus, and the president then called him during the post-fight press conference.

Fabrizio Romano has issued an update on Liverpool‘s attempts to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. The Reds are still looking for their marquee winger signing, with Andoni Iraola still requiring a replacement for Mo Salah, who left at the end of his contract this summer.

But truly elite wingers are not easy to sign, nor at they cheap, and while Liverpool have money to spend, they are not likely to spend the kind of money they spent last summer. With Barcola a two-time Champions League winger who is coming off an impressive World Cup, PSG want huge money for the winger, and that remains the sticking point between the two clubs.

Romano’s update on Liverpool’s Barcola pursuit

Reuters/Sam Navarro

Speaking on his YouTube show, transfer guru Romano issued an update on Liverpool’s Barcola chase. He said: “I wanted to tell you about Bradley Barcola. My understanding is that Liverpool remain in active talks, in daily talks. The talks, financially, there is still no agreement, but personal terms are not an issue at all. Liverpool remain in active talks with Paris Sain-tGemrain for Bradley Barcola. Liverpool know they need to improve their opening conversations.

“There were reports of Liverpool sending an official bid but telling PSG they don’t have the money, but it’s not the case. Liverpool started club-to-club talks, and indicated some numbers. They are still very far away from what PSG want, but Liverpool remain in conversations with PSG. Obviously, if PSG can land Ferran Torres, after Akliouche and Mika Godts, obviously there is going to be a lot of strikers, so this could facilitate the move of Bradley Barcola to Liverpool.”

Liverpool’s record signing so far

• Alexander Isak: £125 million from Newcastle United (September 2025)
• Florian Wirtz: £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen (June 2025)
• Darwin Núñez: £73.7 million (€85m) from Benfica (July 2022)
• Virgil van Dijk: £75 million from Southampton (January 2018)
• Hugo Ekitike: £69 million from Eintracht Frankfurt (July 2025)

Liverpool must find a compromise

REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Liverpool will undoubtedly helped if PSG manage to wrap up the signing of Torres from Barcelona, but PSG are still likely to demand at least £130million, even if they drop their price a little. But ultimately, the Reds cannot go without a truly top winger, and they are going to find it hard to land one for under £100million.

“He’s a great player, there’s no doubt about that, I’d love to get Barcola at Liverpool.” – Jamie Carragher

PSG have seen English clubs pay record fees for the likes of Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson this summer, and while both are very good players, they have have won nothing, and the World Cup aside, neither have played at the very top level. Barcola is proven at the top level, and it is no surprise that European clubs are now using the English deals as context for their own asking prices.

Jamie Carragher has said: “He’s a great player, there’s no doubt about that, I’d love to get Barcola at Liverpool.” Meanwhile, PSG boss Luis Enrique said last year: “He’s having an outstanding, remarkable season. We have complete faith in him and he’s repaying that faith with hard work; this is the best season of his career so far.”