According to the Daily Mail, French side Lille are weighing up a move for Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore.
The British publication claims that Lille are looking to Altidore as a replacement for Belgian striker Divock Origi, currently on loan from Liverpool. The 19-year-old was bought by the Anfield club this summer from Lille for just under $16 million but was allowed to stay on loan for the season.
So far Origi has been mildly effective for the Ligue 1 side, scoring four goals and registering two assists in 18 matches. A powerful, speedy striker, Origi came to notoriety this summer when Belgian manager Marc Wilmots handed him the starting striker role over Romelu Lukaku in the World Cup.
Altidore has been widely linked with a move away from Sunderland, where he has failed to start a league match, falling behind Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher in the pecking order. He has, however, scored one goal in eight total appearances while his physicality and international form continue to be a draw for clubs looking to boost their striking ranks.
Over the last few weeks Altidore has been linked with a number of clubs including Burnley and New York City Football Club but this is the first evidence of a French side’s interest. Whether such a move would transpire in January or June is not mentioned in the article but for all parties involved it’s safe to say - the sooner, the better.
