The 2010 champions of France lost the services of Eden Hazard to Chelsea. However, Rudi Garcia would be happy to see some new faces join the club for next season
A new era begins for Lille this season. A new stadium in the shape of Grande Stade Metropole will be the home of the 2010 champions of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 but sadly, Les Dogues will kick off the 2012/2013 campaign without the presence of their Belgian starlet, Eden Hazard.
However, the departure of the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Belgium-c2850 international to English Premier League side, Chelsea, should not be a big loss to Rudi Garcia’s side. Though the phenomenon is gone, Lille will be looking to atleast improve on their third-place finish from last season.
The planned sale of Hazard to the London giants enabled the club to work extensively in the transfer market to recruit good players. With the 40 million euros they got for Hazard, a few good players were brought to the north of France.
The first of these players is France international, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429, Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain were keen on signing the midfielder but Martin chose to join Lille instead.
Steeve Elana signed from Stade Brestois for free along with former Chelsea man, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Salomon-Kalou-c32266. The Cote d’Ivoire international chose not to sign an extension to his contract at Chelsea and opted to join Les Dogues. The signature of Kalou can be considered
a major coup for the Ligue 1 outfit considering the fact that German Bundesliga side, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Schalke-04-c39204 were keen on signing the striker.
Two young players were signed by Lille in the shape of Victor Klonaridis and Djibril Sidibe from AEK Athens and Troyes meaning that the club will continue investing in the future.
Although Garcia has indicated that he has done most of his shopping for the summer, a few more players could arrive at the club.
The likes of Jires Kembo-Ekoko (Stade Rennais) and Jose Bosingwa are also under the radar of the Mastiffs which means that anything can happen in the last few days of the summer transfer window.
Arrivals
Marvin Martin (FC Sochaux)
Salomon Kalou (Chelsea)
Steeve Elana (Stade Brestois)
Djibril Sidibe (Troyes)
Victor Klonaridis (AEK Athens)
Departures
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 FC)
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ireneusz-Jelen-c17008 (contract terminated)
Man to watch
Salomon Kalou
Nationality: Ivorian
Position: striker
Previous clubs: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Feyenoord-c39258, Excelsior and Chelsea
The Cote d’Ivoire international arrives at Lille as a Champions League winner and will be looking to confirm to everyone that he will be one of the biggest stars of the league next season. It is not every year that a player of Kalou’s calibre chooses to
leave Chelsea for Lille.
Although it would be a tough ask, many people would expect the Ivorian to fill the void left by the departure of Eden Hazard. However, with all his experience, Kalou could be one of the most important players for Les Dogues in the upcoming campaign.
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