Questions remain over how new Lille owner intends to turn a profit following Gerard Lopez' departure
17 December 2020
The businessman has reportedly agreed to sell following pressure from Lille's major creditors Elliott Management and JP Morgan over the club's debt repayment.
How the new owner, a Luxembourg-based investment fund, is better suited to handle Lille's financial obligations remains a question mark.
Lille, currently first in Ligue 1, have combined losses of more than €240 million over the tree-year period leading up to last season.
As Lille secured a 2-0 win against Dijon on Wednesday night to extend their spell as leaders of Ligue 1, ahead of Qatari-backed mastodonts PSG, the club's owner, Spanish-Luxembourg businessman Gerard Lopez, was reportedly negotiating his departure.
According to French media, the pressure from Lille's major creditors Elliott Management and JP Morgan forced Lopez to accept the terms of a deal expected to hand over control to Luxembourg-based investment fund Merlyn Partners.
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