As reported by L’Équipe, Ligue 1 champions Lille may see a summer exodus of players having managed to hold onto much of their title-winning side for the current campaign.
Although the club are hoping to keep hold of big assets in Sven Botman, who is seeing interest from Newcastle, and Renato Sanches, who has openly discussed interest from Arsenal and AC Milan, until the end of the season, their departures are more likely than others in January. But should the club hold onto both players, they will likely follow a host of others in leaving next summer.
Canadian striker Jonathan David (21) remains high among Liverpool’s priorities and his exit is expected to take place in the summer say the sports daily. Left-back Reinildo Mandava (27) is aiming to end the season with LOSC but is seeing interest from Napoli as the player’s contract expires in the summer and negotiations over an extension have not progressed. Goalkeeper Ivo Grbić (25) is set to return to Atlético Madrid in the summer after his loan, with the club keen to promote the promising Lucas Chevalier (20) who’s currently on loan at Valenciennes in Ligue 2.
Having failed to secure a move to either West Ham or Atalanta last off-season, Jonathan Bamba (25) is now set to stay until the summer too despite interest from France, England and Germany. One of the heroes of last season, Burak Yilmaz is also expected to leave at the end of the campaign. Now 36, the Turkish striker’s weighty contract (€230k monthly salary excluding bonuses) will be up at the end of June. Domagoj Bradaric, out of favour at left-back, could also leave on loan with Feyenoord interested.
The most likely winter departures are of Jonathan Ikone, who is close to joining Fiorentina, and Thiago Maia who could make his loan with Flamengo permanent. Out of favour midfielder Yusuf Yazici could also leave on loan in January say L’Équipe.