Arsenal are in talks to sign the £43m sensation

Like any well-run outfit, Arsenal will be careful not to get caught World Cup fever pitched in to sign a player based on their tournament performances this summer.

It’s a different story if it’s a player the Gunners are already monitoring, but it’s hard not to be impressed by Morocco’s Ayoub Bouadi’s brilliant display as the 2022 semi-finalists were held to a 1-1 draw in Brazil.

The attractive 18-year-old opened proceedings against Carlo Ancelotti’s unconventional side, showing why he is a player to have at both Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.”I want to sign“, – says French journalist Julien Laurent.

Rising star Lille, this World Cup could be the perfect platform for the teenager to really come to the fore, although he is not the only one Mikel Arteta and co will be watching closely.

Arsenal have held talks to sign the £43m-rated talent

There are already speculations that Arsenal are is in talks to sign Bouadialthough the main story has been their pursuit of Club Brugge’s Christos Tsolis, a player who will miss this summer’s tournament after Greece failed to qualify.

As it became known this week, this is a 24-year-old guy seeks to make a move to north London, with the Premier League champions potentially able to complete a deal for a fee of around £35m.

The arrival of Tsolis would not be the end of Arteta’s attempt to strengthen the attacking ranks, however, far from it, with Arsenal insiders also provides the latest news on the club’s interest in Argentine sensation Nico Paz.

According to the report, talks are believed to have taken place over a potential move for the Spain-born playmaker, with Arsenal said to have already carried out “standard checks”.

Real Madrid have the option to activate a buyout clause to bring the 21-year-old back to LaLiga, although the latest report suggests he was “confused” about his future after speaking with new Los Blancos boss Jose Mourinho.

As for the price tag, previous reports earlier this year suggested Chelsea were preparing a bid for fee about £43m.

Why Paz could be an even bigger talent than Boadi

Morocco’s clash with Brazil gave Bouadi a chance to show what he’s all about, and that opportunity could come for Paz in the coming weeks as he has been included in Lionel Scoloni’s squad as Argentina look to defend their title.

It’s a small matter that the South American giants boast another left-footed number ten in the name of Lionel Messi, although don’t be surprised to see Paz take his chance if he is brought into the fray this summer.

Indeed, it has turned out to be two stunning campaigns under former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas at Como, with the versatile playmaker proving as effective in front of goal as he is as a creator.

For example, in the 2024/25 season he scored 14 goals and assists and created 11 ‘big moments’ in 30 matches in Serie A, later improving on that record with 18 goals and assists and 13 ‘big moments’ created in 33 matches this time around.

He also scored 12 goals in 2025/26, conceding just three ‘big chances’, again underlining how effective he is in the final third.

A graceful, elegant operator between the lines, perhaps in the vein of a certain Martin Odegaard, Paz also stands out for his defensive contributions, averaging 3.4 tackles and an interception per game last season.

In comparison, while Bouadi usually plays in a number eight or six role, the Moroccan actually only averaged 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game.

It has to be said that he is still 18 years old, although there may also be some concern over the lack of progress in Bouadi, who has averaged just 0.7 key assists per game while only providing a solitary assist.

As DataMB points out, for example, the teenage gem ranks in the bottom 45% of midfielders for progressive passes completed and just 44% for forward passes completed, not quite the type to offer a sharp, probing pass to those ahead of him.

As someone in possession, while Paz is again the more advanced midfielder, it’s easy to see how progressive he is, averaging two successful dribbles per game in 2025/26, ahead of Boadi’s average of 1.1.

With 36 goals and assists in just 75 games in Italian football, the Como sensation has indeed already established himself as a star in the making, someone who could fit perfectly into Arteta’s ranks this summer.

Boadi is certainly a talent in his own right, but Paz may already have the upper hand.