The Ligue 1 side hope to see off interest from the two Champions League contenders to sign the Brazil Under-23 international
Lille sporting director Jorge Campos has sent a message to transfer target Thiago Maia that he would be better signing for the Stade Pierre-Mauroy outfit than Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain.
Although both of their rivals for the 20-year-old Brazilian prospect are in the Champions League, Campos believes that a switch to Marcelo Bielsa’s side would be more beneficial for him in the long run.
“I think that if he goes to PSG or to Chelsea, he’ll need time to find his place,” Campos told the press. “Here, he will play.
“When a young player comes to Lille, it’s to play, and then he can go to play at a higher level.”
Lille face particular competition from PSG for the midfielder, with Chelsea’s interest thought largely to have passed. Compatriot Marquinhos has been doing his best to talk him into a switch to the Parc des Princes, claiming to SporTV that the player would be “perfect for the Parisian project”.
LOSC, meanwhile, have helped several players attain the highest standard in recent seasons, most notably launching the career of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, who was named the Premier League’s outstanding player in 2014-15.
