L’Équipe are reporting that Vito Mannone (35) is set to join Lille OSC from FC Lorient. Les Dogues’ attentions turned to the Italian shot-stopper after a failed attempt at buying Arsenal’s Alex Runarsson (28).
Following Benoît Costil’s departure this summer, Lille have been in the market for a back-up goalkeeper. Lucas Chevalier’s position between the sticks is uncontested, however, there is a lack of experience behind the France U21 international. Adam Jakubech (26) and Tom Negrel (20) have never played a senior minute for Lille’s first team, the latter has never even registered a minute in senior football.
Lille had tried to sign Arsenal’s Runarsson, who has experience in Ligue 1 having played for Dijon between 2018 and 2020, however, the deal was too onerous for the Dogues, and the Icelandic goalkeeper has ultimately been loaned out to Cardiff City. It is Mannone therefore, who played 18 games for Lorient last season, following his free transfer from AS Monaco, who will join Paulo Fonseca’s side. The former Arsenal shotstopper will sign a two-year deal at the club.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
