Lille’s title triumph in France did not go unnoticed. As expected, top European clubs have taken an interest in signing several of their key players. Barcelona and AC Milan have already made their moves to bring in a couple of their stars.
According to Fabrizio Romano, AC Milan are close to signing Lille’s title-winning goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The Frenchman is marked to replace Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal for the Rossoneri, who is expected to depart this summer on contract expiry.
Juventus target the young goalkeeper who has been playing professional football since the age of 16. Donnarumma made his 250th appearance for Milan in the penultimate game of the 2020/21 season at just 22 years of age.
As the negotiations with Donnarumma hit a stumbling block, Milan made their move to sign Maignan from Lille. An agreement was reached quickly with both the club and the player, and Maignan is expected in Milan shortly to undergo his medical. Milan will pay €13 million, plus add-ons, to Lille for Ligue 1’s golden glove winner. The Frenchman kept 21 clean sheets in the top division this term and is expected to sign a five-year contract with the Rossoneri.
Maignan is not the only star expected to leave Lille this summer. However, reports suggest that he is also not the only goalkeeper potentially on his way out of the team. Barcelona are said to be keeping tabs on Lille’s reserve goalkeeper Leo Jardim, who spent the season on loan at Boavista in Portugal. Jardim, 26, was signed by Lille from Gremio in 2019 but is yet to make a competitive appearance for the team.
A report from Sport suggests that Barca are eyeing Jardim as a possible replacement for the outgoing Neto. The 26-year-old custodian was reportedly recommended to the Blaugrana by their ex-player Deco, after some good performances this season on loan in Portugal. Jardim’s contract is set to expire in a month, which would enable Barcelona to sign him on a free transfer. However, he will be expected to provide back-up to Marc-Andre ter Stegen rather than take his spot in the first team.
