Lille coach Christophe Galtier hopes he will not lose any key players before the transfer window closes on October 5, after his side beat FC Nantes 2-0 on Friday to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
“We will see what happens. Obviously I would like to keep this squad together because it is a quality squad which allows us to do lots of things,” Galtier said.
“There are certain positions where a player won’t be replaced if he goes. I don’t know if there will be one, two or three departures. There is an economic reality post-Covid, but the president and the sporting director are ambitious and want us to have a competitive team.”
Midfielder Boubakary Soumaré and France international winger Jonathan Ikoné are two of the most coveted members of the Lille squad. Defender Adama Soumaoro and right-back Zeki Celik have also been linked with moves away from northern France after a summer in which Lille have notably lost last season's top scorer Victor Osimhen and Brazilian centre-back Gabriel.
A Nicolas Pallois own goal just before half-time and a late Burak Yilmaz penalty gave LOSC the points against Nantes at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, leaving them with 11 points from five games and putting them provisionally top ahead of the rest of the weekend’s action.
“That doesn’t mean much,” Galtier said of his side going top. “We need to make sure we keep up this same level of determination and continue to be demanding. The players who came off the bench did well. I have a quality squad and it is very pleasant to have 11 points but the table means nothing. We will see where we are the day before the transfer window closes.”
