Edon Zhegrova turned down a move to Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Lille for £6 million, as reported by the Ligue 1 website.
They know a thing or two about exciting young wingers at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Eden Hazard, Gervinho, Rafael Leao, Nicolas Pepe, Anwar El Ghazi, Sofiane Boufal, Florian Thauvin, Dimitri Payet all had spells at Lille before moving on for big fees.
France U21 international Jonathan Ikone joined Fiorentina to the tune of £12 million, meanwhile, just a few short months after snatching the Ligue 1 title from under Paris Saint-Germain’s nose.
Don’t be surprised, then, if the spring-heeled Zhegrova earns Lille a substantial profit at some point in the near future. The German-born 22-year-old joined from Swiss giants Basel for a bargain £6 million last week.
According to the Ligue 1 website, Zhegrova signed a four-and-a-half year contract at Les Dogues after turning down approaches from Wolves and Marseille.
Why did Edon Zhegrova not join Wolves instad of Lille?
“I like Lille more than Marseille,” explains Zhegrova, who produced 10 goals and assists in 16 games for Basel this term.
“That’s why I made this choice. It’s a great opportunity, a great club. I like the way Lille play. The Lille game suits me more than Marseille’s. I’m very happy to have joined Lille.”
Zhegrova was initially linked with a move to Molineux in April 2020.
“He looks very happy to be there,” adds Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec (Le11). “He has very large potential.”
Wolves boss Bruno Lage told Sky on New Years’ Day that he was planning to sign a new winger during the January transfer window. A centre-forward and a centre-half are also on his winter wishlist.
Lage’s already paper-thin squad could be stretched ever further should Adama Traore and Willy Boly depart before the month is out.
Boly is available while Traore could move to Tottenham as part of a swap deal, one potentially involving Japhet Tanganga.
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