As Lille officially confirm their interest in Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos, the Ligue 1 outfit are also said to be chasing another on-form striker from a lesser European league.
Canadian wonderkid Jonathan David, 20, is currently plying his trade in Belgium with AA Gent and is another player Lille have admitted their interest in.
The Ligue 1 club have reportedly bid €25m (£22.8m) for the striker but the Belgians are believed – by David’s own admission – to be holding out for closer to €30m (£27.3m).
Speaking to L’Equipe, David revealed that he has his heart set on a move to Lille and that he has been left frustrated by Gent’s hard bargaining.
“Yes, I want to come to Lille,” said David.
“I have had a very good season. For me, my next step, is Ligue 1. And the footballing project at Lille is fantastic. They are a very good team in France.
“Talks are difficult. The club says they want to keep me. Or be ready to sell me for a price that I don’t think is realistic (at least €30m) when you take into account the COVID-19 situation.
“That is making negotiations complicated. In any case, I made it clear that I want to go to Lille. They said to me that they would not block me.
“At the start, things were going quicker. Now, everything has slowed. As if they are waiting for a better offer. I don’t know where that is supposed to come from.”
With Victor Osimhen is on the verge of a £54.7m move to Napoli and defender Gabriel reportedly interesting a host of clubs to the tune of £22.5m, Lille have the money to spend.
The French club have also been very open about their interest in the talented forward and remain eager to sign him.
“He is a player who we like a lot, whom Luis (Campos, sporting director) knows very well, and who had the courage to declare in the media where he wants to play. Not everyone does that,” said president Gerard Lopez [RMC Sport].
“I have a lot of respect for that, and so I don’t have to say that the player wants to come to us. It’s clear.
“We need to find an agreement between the two clubs, but clearly he’s a player we really like.”
This may make Rangers fans hopeful that any potential move for Morelos could fall through due to the demands of Gent.
However, Lille have already recognised on several occasions their need to sign two high-quality players in the forward positions in order to challenge for the Ligue 1 title.
“The process is led by (sporting director Luis) Campos who offers profiles to Christophe Galtier,” said Lopez [L’Equipe].
“Where some are wrong is that they see certain names come out and think that we’re obligated to sign them.
“Even if we’re interested in one profile, it’s only in combination with others. We’re changing two forwards, it’s more complicated than selling a player and finding a replacement.
“The strength is the system and the quality of our scouting process.
“Our squad building will take place in the next two weeks.
“We’ll remain humble, but we will have talent.”
Lopez would also tell RMC Sport that Lille are actively trying to secure more than one player in the striking berth, whilst also admitting Lille’s interest in Alfredo Morelos.
“It’s not unusual to have agreements with two or even three players for one role, then after that we see which player combines best with another etc,” said Lopez.
“As for Morelos, it’s true he’s a player who interests us. It’s also true that he’s interested in LOSC.
“But we’re in the middle of a discussion, nothing is done.”
So whilst Lille look to spread their exorbitant budget out around their squad – and get held to ransom in Belgium – their interest in Morelos remains very much alive.
According to reports on Scottish soil, the French side could also be about to test Rangers’ resolve with an £18m bid for the Colombian striker [Scottish Sun].
Rangers are said to have rejected a £13.7m bid for the striker and are holding out for closer to £18.2m [FootMercato].
