Financial difficulties are forcing Lille to sell the club and some of their most prized players. Great opportunity for AC Milan.
Ligue 1 club Lille are in significant financial difficulties. As reported by both L’Equipe and Canal +, the club based in the North of France is on the verge of being sold with president and owner Gerard Lopez having already left the club.
A strange situation for Lille. One of the most brilliant teams in France and Europa League is struggling with high debt outside the pitch. AC Milan owner, Elliot Management, have loaned Lille a figure of 225 million euros that hasn’t been repaid yet. Gerard Lopez is looking to sell the club and Lille have already put three stars on the market in order to gather funds.
The first name is an old transfer target of AC Milan, Boubakary Soumare. The 21-year-old defensive midfielder was approached by AC Milan last summer. A player of quantity and physicality that would be very convenient. Soumare is the best alternative to the workaholic Franck Kessie.
The second player on the market is Jonathan Ikone, Lille’s most valuable player according to transfermarkt. Ikone is a left-footed right winger, fast and of great technical quality. Ikone has been scouted in the past by the Rossoneri but his €40 million price tag has been prohibitive for AC Milan. In 21 appearances this season, the former PSG talent has scored 5 goals and assisted 4.
The last player on the list is a striker. Timothy Weah, the son of the great AC Milan champion of the 90s George Weah, is expected to leave in January. AC Milan are looking for a back-up striker to replace Ibrahimovic but the Rossoneri ideal player would be an experienced striker. Timothy Weah joined Lille last summer for e fee of 10 million euros from PSG.
At the moment AC Milan have not made concrete steps for any of this players but certainly the Rossoneri could have a preferential lane with Lille. Elliott Management is handling the sale of Lille and business between the two clubs can not be excluded.
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