Lille land promising Obraniak
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Article summary
LOSC Lille Métropole have paid €1m for FC Metz midfielder Ludovic Obraniak, with Swiss international Daniel Gygax transferring on loan to the Ligue 2 side.
Article body
Puel input
The 22-year-old left-sided Obraniak has spent his whole career with Metz, playing more than 100 matches including 20 in the league this season. He said: "Lille coach Claude Puel's input into the deal was crucial. He told me how much the club wanted to sign me. He knows I'm versatile and can play in a number of positions. It was an offer I couldn't refuse."
Initial loan
Gygax, meanwhile, has joined Metz on loan for the rest of the campaign with the option of a permanent transfer to the second division leaders. "I really want to start playing again," said the 25-year-old, who has not featured since the French League Cup loss to Stade Rennais FC on 24 October. His one previous season with Les Dogues was more productive, yielding four goals from 22 games following his move from FC Zürich.
United date
Lille have also loaned Samuel Robail to third division leaders Boulogne-sur-Mer. The midfielder's twin brother Mathieu, 21, has broken into the first team this term, appearing four times in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Having finished second in their pool, the French club will next tackle Manchester United FC for a place in the quarter-finals.
