Football Season Guide

Lille finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season but face a challenge to repeat that effort after losing head coach Paulo Fonseca over the summer as well as one of their key players in the form of Leny Yoro, who was vital in them boasting one of the best defensive records in the league. In has come Bruno Genesio, who has previously worked well at Lyon and Rennes, suggesting that LOSC are not downgrading in the coaching department. One issue, however, could be a smaller squad to work with next season. Several players have departed over the course of the summer – eight first-team players in total – with only five coming in. There is also a very real possibility that last season’s top scorer Jonathan David departs before the end of the summer transfer window. This would be a huge blow. Once again, Lille are taking a chance on several untested young players, with Heerenveen winger Osame Sahraoui arriving much like Hakon Haraldsson did last season. The Icelandic player struggled to make an impact and more must be hoped from the 23-year-old. The only other player to arrive for a fee is Ngal-ayel Mukau from Mechelen to bolster the midfield. Similarly, Ethan Mbappe has joined up from PSG in a high-profile move. Some experience has been drafted into the defence. Thomas Meunier should be a shrewd arrival at right-back, while Aissa Mandi signs up from Villarreal to take the spot of Yoro. He will provide a solid presence when playing with their backs to the wall while Samuel Umtiti is a problem given his large wages, poor availability and reportedly bad attitude. Defensive midfield is lacking in experience with Nabil Bentaleb missing because of a recurrence of his heart issue. Further forward, there is no lack of creative quality with Angel Gomes and Edon Zhegrova, while in attack, Andrej Ilic will be David’s replacement if he departs. Ilic signed in January but spent much of the second half of the season injured and so is largely untested.