Cash-strapped Portsmouth could be about to receive a helping hand from French club Lille according to the Daily Mirror. Lille are reportedly willing to make of £10million for 24-year-old French defender Younes Kaboul.
Portsmouth are desperate to reduce their wage bill and raise funds through player sales as their financial situation worsens. Kaboul has been one of their impressive performers this season and is one of their most valuable player assets. Manchester City and Lyon have also shown an interest in recent weeks though Lyon’s interest may be over now that they have signed Dejen Lovren.
Kaboul had a tough start to his career in England and failed to settle at Tottenham. But since his move to Portsmouth for around £6million in 2008, he has steadily improved and developed into a very decent defender. He is thought to be one high wages at Pompey so the club are keen to offload him quickly but they will not let him go for less than his market value.
Lille would be an attractive proposition for Kaboul as they sit second in Ligue 1 and offer the possibility of Champions League football next season while Portsmouth can only offer the relative certainty of Championship football next season.
With Manchester City still to confirm their interest in Kaboul, a move is not likely to happen till the last week of the transfer window, but with Pompey’s financial plight it will be a surprise if Kaboul and the other high earners are still at the club in February.
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