After Rafael Leao and Mike Maignan from Lille to AC Milan, we could see Edon Zhegrova. In Kosovo, they say that the next deal between Lille and Milan will involve the 24-year-old right-winger from Herford, Germany.
At the moment, it is a rumour that has not been confirmed in Italy, but Zhegrova is definitely a profile that the Rossoneri managers and scouts appreciate. It is true that his season wasn't very impressive in terms of numbers, with 4 goals and 5 assists in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France (being replaced first by Ounas and then by Weah). However, many believe that Zhegrova is destined to play for a top team as he has a great talent and potential.
Born in Germany to a Kosovar family that fled the war, raised between Bielefeld and Pristina with a lawyer father and a mother who works as a cook, Zhegrova had his first contact with the Milan world in 2012. He learned about a trial organised by the Rossoneri at the last minute from his coach and passed it brilliantly. He was the best among over 200 children. Moving to Italy, for reasons not only bureaucratic, was not possible, but from that moment Zhegrova understood that becoming a football player could be his profession. The rest is history: experiences in Belgium with Standard Liege and Saint-Truiden, and in Switzerland with Basel, until his transfer to Lille in January 2022 for 7 million euros, as a replacement for Jonathan Ikoné.
He is a left-footed player, very strong in one-on-one situations, he is perfect for the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations. He can play on both wings, but he prefers to start from the right. Beating opponents with dribbling is his specialty, but to take the next step in his development, he needs to learn to work off the ball and be more impactful in front of goal.
As described by his former coach at Lille, Gourvennec, he tends to isolate himself in the defensive phase, neglecting personal and collective movements on the field. A year in northern France has helped him, and signing him now could be a good deal. Lille values him between 10 million euros and 15 million euros, writes Calciomercato.com, and there is interest from Lyon, who already wanted him at the end of 2021, and Napoli.
