Matias Fernandez-Pardo has officially requested a move away from Lille, with Liverpool among the clubs monitoring the Belgian forward. The 21-year-old is also on the radar of Arsenal, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.
Transfer request submitted
French outlet L'Equipe reports that Fernandez-Pardo handed in a transfer request at Lille. However, the Ligue 1 side is taking a firm stance on his future.
A meeting between the player, his new representative and Lille president Oliver Letang took place on Tuesday, where Letang made his position clear. He reiterated that stance in comments shared by L'Equipe: "The player is under contract until 2029, and his departure is not an issue. We are counting on him, he knows that, and we have been very clear with him."
Lille's stance
Letang also confirmed that Fernandez-Pardo never had a release clause. "Every player I told could leave has left. It's the same old story as last summer, with yet another new agent," he added.
Lille are keen to keep the forward for their Champions League campaign, believing his performances in the tournament could boost his reputation and market value. Fernandez-Pardo is expected to lead the line for Lille this season, with Hamza Igamane recovering from an ACL injury and 40-year-old Olivier Giroud providing support.
Liverpool's interest
Liverpool currently have Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike as their senior striking options, though Ekitike is recovering from a serious Achilles injury. Andoni Iraola is looking to strengthen the attack, with Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola also a target as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Fernandez-Pardo joined Lille from Gent in 2024 for €10 million (£8.6m). In 71 appearances for the club across all competitions, he has scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists.
