Lille continues to have its sights set on Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, the central defender from Valenciennes, making him a top priority for the upcoming winter transfer window. The 20-year-old Guadeloupean player is under contract with Valenciennes until 2015. Lille is keen on recruiting him as a new option behind the established Marko Basa-Aurélien Chedjou defensive duo. This move is seen as a potential replacement for Cameroonian Chedjou, who has other aspirations.
Isimat-Mirin, a French international hopeful, had been a target before, with Lille previously offering 2.5 million euros, bonuses, the loan of striker Ronny Rodelin (22 years old), and a percentage in the event of a resale to Valenciennes. However, Valenciennes demanded around five million euros to release the promising defender. While the pursuit is ongoing, the strong start to the season for Valenciennes, particularly Nicolas Penneteau’s teammates, may pose challenges in the negotiation process for LOSC.
Nicolas Isimat-Mirin underwent pre-training at INF Clairefontaine from 2004 to 2007 and then joined Stade Rennais in 2007. Despite not being retained at the end of his contract with Rennes in 2009, Valenciennes recognized his potential and recruited him. In just a few months, Isimat-Mirin progressed to the professional team, making his Ligue 1 debut in September 2010.
