Football Season Guide

Lille come into the 2021-22 campaign defending champions only in name. They may have stunned PSG by winning the title last season, but it has been a shambolic summer for LOSC, who saw head coach Christophe Galtier depart shortly before the beginning of pre-season and who have barely conducted any meaningful transfer activity. Indeed, poor pre-season results are little surprise given this is a side that has elected to severely strip back its side for the season, seeking to profit from the assets that won Ligue 1 last term and not replacing them. It is telling that, on the eve of the season, they have not made a single notable signing. Lille, meanwhile, have sold around €40 million worth of talent, including defensive midfielder Boubakary Soumare and first-choice goalkeeper Mike Maignan. If Soumare can be replaced from within – Lille had four midfielders vying for only two positions last season – they are just days away from the start of the season and do not have a recognised first-choice goalkeeper. This is only one aspect of the club’s management that has frustrated fans. Arguably more damning of the board was their inability to replace Galtier with a coach of any note. Instead, they have plumped for Jocelyn Gourvennec, a coach who has been out of work since 2019, following difficult stints at Bordeaux and Guingamp. He was once regarded as one of the best up-and-coming coaches in France, but his stock has fallen dramatically since. Lille are clearly hoping he regains that early lustre. Gourvennec, though, appears on a hiding to nothing. Lille’s squad is in such a state that it is unclear how they will look by the end of the transfer window. Sven Botman, Zeki Celik and Renato Sanches have all been associated with possible summer transfers, while the evidence of any fresh faces arriving has so far been scant. Lille do retain a promising attacking line, with the likes of Jonathan Ikone, Jonathan David and Jonathan Bamba, while Sanches is clearly an asset in midfield. Additionally, the unfashionable Benjamin Andre was perhaps one of their best players last term but there appears no prospect of him moving on. Jose Fonte belatedly agreed a new contract in defence, so they will at least have his old head to build around, but Lille do not have the aura of a club going in a positive direction.