With the official transfer of French starlet Jolo to Manchester United, Ligue 1 powerhouse Lille has begun to actively search for his replacement to fill the vacancies in the team's backline. According to French media outlet "L'Equipe", Lille has regarded West Ham United's center back Agder as one of the potential replacements and hopes to sign him on loan.
Lille has gone through multiple changes this summer, including a managerial change and the departure of several players. Among them, the departure of star center back Jolo has had a significant impact on the defensive side of the team. In order to maintain competitiveness, Lille urgently needs to find a player who can quickly integrate into the team and take on the burden of defense. Ageld, the Moroccan international, has become one of Lille's targets due to his outstanding performance at West Ham United.
Lille's interest in Agder is not only due to his individual ability, but also because he has worked with current Lille manager Genesio during his time with Rennes in the 2021-2022 season. This familiarity could allow Agder to adapt to Lille's tactical system faster and perform at his best.
However, Lille is also facing financial pressure, so it prefers to take the form of loan plus buyout when attracting reinforcements. It is reported that Lille hope to sign Ageld in the form of rent and then buy, in order to reduce the risk of initial investment. As for West Ham United, since they are also seeking to strengthen their center back position, they may consider releasing Agder in exchange for a certain transfer fee or loan fee.
However, Agder is not the only option for Lille. Lille are also reportedly considering Marseille's Gigo as an alternative. Gigo's contract is about to expire and Lille may try to sign him for a lower transfer fee or on a free transfer. However, the exact choice of player still needs to be considered based on Lille's tactical needs, the player's willingness and the actual situation of the transfer market.
