Summer holidays over for Lille

LOSC Lille Métropole are back in training after some major transfer activity as they bid to return to the UEFA Champions League.

Puel restless
Lille, who competed in last season's group stage, are the first French team to resume training. They begin their European campaign in the third qualifying round with a two-legged tie on 8/9 and 22/23 August, and coach Claude Puel has arranged camps in June and July. "I did not want them resting too long," he said. The squad that assembled for training was light of a few players. The 25-year-old midfielder Geoffrey Dernis will join Puel's former assistant Laurent Roussey at AS Saint-Etienne, signing a three-year contract later this week for an undisclosed fee.

Moussilou absent
Another Lille academy graduate, 24-year-old striker Matt Moussilou, was also absent with Lille directors confirming he is to move to OGC Nice on a four-year deal. Souleymane Youla, also 24 and newly arrived from FC Metz, will take Moussilou's place. Lille have also said that Morocco midfielder Hicham Aboucherouane is returning to Raja Club Athletic de Casablanca after a year-long loan, while defender Dante Bonfim has sealed a permanent deal with Belgian side R. Charleroi SC following a successful loan. The Ligue 1 season starts on 5 August.