Lille make €7 million bid for Afellay

Lille have shown interest in signing midfielder Ibrahim Afellay from Barcelona, TV3 understands.

Having stayed without Eden Hazard and Joe Cole, les Dogues are looking to sign at least one high-profile winger and they have set their sights on Barcelona’s Ibrahim Afellay.

The Dutchman, who has had a somewhat disappointing start to his career at Camp Nou, is heavily linked with a summer exit, with several top European clubs interested in his services.

However, Lille were the first club to make a concrete offer, which is in the range of €7 million, and les Dogues have thus moved to the front of the queue.

The Catalans are satisfied with the amount offered, but it’s now up to coach Tito Vilanova to decide whether he needs the Dutchman for the upcoming season.

Afellay joined Barcelona in a €2.4 million deal from PSV Eindhoven in January 2011 and has since featured in 20 La Liga games.