"It's true, I have informed the club that I will not be renewing my contract. We'll see what happens this summer, but the club has been made aware of my decision. There are several clubs interested, and I will decide my future after the end of Ligue 1." Edon Zhegrova spoke very clearly to Kosovo's Radio Dukagjini, officially putting himself on the market ahead of the summer. His impressive first half of the season with Lille and the remarkable exposure provided by the Champions League so far—while awaiting the Round of 16 clash against Borussia Dortmund, which could pave the way for an exciting quarter-final against Barcelona (should they overcome Benfica)—have inevitably increased the attention on a player who has already come close to joining Serie A in the past.
Eight goals and two assists in 21 matches, before a serious muscle injury suffered in mid-December, which could finally be behind him next month after approximately 90 days on the sidelines. This is the tally of the left-footed winger born in 1999, who has been playing for Lille since the summer of 2021 and has seen his market value rise significantly compared to the €7 million the French club paid Basel at the time. Edon Zhegrova is an extremely skilled winger when it comes to creating numerical superiority, and in the past two seasons, he has significantly improved his goal-scoring output (last season, under Paulo Fonseca, he reached 12 goals). With only one year left on his contract (expiring in 2026), he becomes an especially attractive investment—while at the same time creating additional concerns for Lille, who are already set to lose their star striker Jonathan David on a free transfer at the end of the season.
As mentioned, Edon Zhegrova has repeatedly been linked with clubs in Serie A, from Roma to Napoli, as well as Juventus and Milan. The latter two could be among the leading contenders in the race set to unfold in the coming weeks to secure a prime position for the Kosovan player. Juventus' technical director has long admired Zhegrova, having even tried to bring him to Napoli during his time with De Laurentiis' club. However, the Bianconeri already have a wealth of wide players—Weah, Nico González, Yildiz, Mbangula, and Chico Conceição—and have committed significant investments for the former Fiorentina winger (€25 million guaranteed plus potential bonuses for his permanent transfer) and for the Portuguese attacker, factors that must be considered.
And Milan?
The Rossoneri will have many decisions to make in the coming months, starting with the head coach and the person who will oversee the transfer market. The futures of several players currently underwhelming in the club's hierarchy remain uncertain, as their performances have raised questions about their long-term prospects. With Samu Chukwueze very likely to depart this summer and doubts surrounding the confirmations of Rafael Leão, Riccardo Sottil, and João Félix, Edon Zhegrova's name could resurface as a concrete option. Given Milan's frequent dealings with French football and Lille in particular, pursuing a player awaiting the right call to take the next step in his career and establish himself at the highest level would hardly be considered a gamble.
Source: Calciomercato.com
