Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterIt feels as though Liverpool were in danger mere months after their Premier League title victory in 2024/25 of letting that domestic dominance slip.With the long-awaited sacking of Arne Slot, and subsequent arrival of Basque manager Andoni Iraola, hope has been restored - Liverpool are now in talks to sign a major World Cup breakout star.They will rival Arsenal for the player's signature, as they shed the old guard and turn to rising talents to lead the Reds' next project forward.Play our free match predictor and win �1kLiverpool to sign major 2026 World Cup breakout star, rivalling Arsenal for Morocco international's signatureLiverpool are no strangers to the perks of African brilliance - they just saw the end of a stellar nine year reign from the Premier League's greatest ever, Mohamed Salah.Elsewhere, the Reds appear to be trying with all their might to see the arrival of Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande as his replacement this summer. You may like 100m Liverpool signing on the cards, as Reds eye the next Semenyo: report Liverpool suffer transfer disaster as wonderkid makes shock decision: report Yan Diomande issues come-and-get-me plea to Liverpool rivals But who better to target than the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions? According to transfer experts Fabrizio Romano and TEAMTalk's Graeme Bailey, that's where they're looking.Ayyoub Bouaddi, who featured in FourFourTwo's 'The Boy's A Bit Special' series, is the target of a Reds raid, and Arsenal.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.And his stock has arguably never been higher, a true standout at just 18 years of age against Brazil, showing the world stage that his side's run to the semi-finals in 2022's Qatar tournament was no fluke.FourFourTwo's Joe Donnohue saw it coming, writing: "In terms of up-and-coming No.6/8s across world football, there are few as accomplished on the field as Bouaddi."Few appear as capable of making the jump to a higher level... more robust on the floor than most central midfielders, never mind players of a similar age to him," he continued.Of the Reds links, transfer expert Romano stated that both Arsenal and Liverpool have held meetings with Bouaddi's agent.The 18-year-old Morocco international, currently a Lille player, will now reflect on which offer stands tall after the 2026 World Cup, with surely much more to give on the largest of international stages."A useful bellwether for young players is assessing not how much they get right, but how little they get wrong," stated FourFourTwo's Joe Donnohue Liverpool remain firmly at the table to sign a player whose composure and talent lies far beyond his age suggests.TOPICSLiverpoolArsenalWorld Cup 2026Premier LeagueKedar BayleySocial Links NavigationFreelance WriterKedar Bayley is a trained journalist specialising in culture reporting. As a fan of Liverpool FC,he writes on the Reds often. Knowledgable about all things sports, cinema and television,you can find his words in Screen International, FourFourTwo, Manchester Evening News and more.
