Pardo No Longer Training With Lille First Team Squad

An interesting development in our reported pursuit of  Matias Fernandez-Pardo...

LOSC Lille manager Davide Ancelotti announced on Thursday that Matias Fernandez-Pardo has been excluded from the first-team squad until the transfer window closes.

“I have decided, in consultation with the club, that he will no longer train with the squad until the end of the transfer window,” the Italian announced at a press conference. “I am focusing on the players who are available for tomorrow’s match and who are training with us.”

Pardo has made it clear that he wants to ply his trade elsewhere this season and this latest development smacks of Lille not wanting the want away player to get injured and potentially stop them cashing in.

There are also rumours that Pardo is refusing to train and is trying to force a move; if that is true let's hope that Wilson has done his homework on the lads character and that he isn't the sort who will kick up a stink if he has to sit on the bench or isn't played in his preferred position.

It also almost certainly signals that a deal is there to be done but the sticking point will be Lille's ever increasing valuation witch has jumped from 50 million to 70 million euro's in just a week.

That, of course, could just be part of the negotiation dance and it remains to be seen how far Wilson will shuffle his feet if Pardo really is our top forward target.

Although only 21, Pardo has performed across the front three and as a 10 so that flexibility will be a big asset to Matthias Jaissle in the long season ahead where fatigue and injuries often reduce selection options.

Pardo is also pacey, with good dibbling skills, and an eye for goal.

He won't be wanting to hang around at Lille after this latest development so, whether it is to us or another club, I'd expect a deal to be done quickly.

Just four days and counting until the transfer window closes.

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