Lille are interested in signing Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham during the January transfer window, according to reports in France. The 23-year-old was reportedly scouted when the Hoops faced Rennes in the Europa League.
The Ligue One side are looking to replace Boubakary Soumare who has been tipped to move to the English Premier League next month. After his good form in recent weeks, Celtic fans on Twitter don’t think the club will let Ntcham go without a substantial fee being offered:
Couldn't afford him
— Steven O'Neill ????????? (@steveon7) December 25, 2019
59 mullyin!!
— Who? (@HerrDoktor7) December 25, 2019
He would walk the French league.
— Liam (@LiamBronaldo) December 25, 2019
Surely Lille don't have the money to buy Ntcham?
— Tom Pearson (@tom7p) December 25, 2019
So they'll not have the money
— Wolfe Of Parkhead ???????? (@ParkheadWolfe) December 25, 2019
Nothing less than 17.5 million
— DC (@DC94__) December 25, 2019
Is he aye, ??????????
— I wanna be Edouard (@Jifly6) December 25, 2019
The money will come in handy for the other striker plus l shankland.
— Henry E. Thripshaw The First. (@securityarei) December 26, 2019
A lot may depend on how much Lille sell Soumare for. The 20-year-old is highly rated, and if the French club do receive a good transfer fee, they could then reinvest that money in their bid for Ntcham.
Whether it would come close to Celtic’s asking price, though, it seems debatable. The midfielder has started the last four league games for the Neil Lennon‘s side, bagging himself the crucial second goal in the 2-0 win against Hearts last week.
