'Club with very deep pockets' approach Feyenoord for Zechiël

Lille OSC have made a fresh move for Gjivai Zechiël, Voetbal International reports. The French club are preparing a significantly improved bid for the 21-year-old midfielder, who has started the season superbly and was on the scoresheet again on Sunday in the 5-2 win over SC Cambuur.

Lille's interest is nothing new. The Ligue 1 side also tried to lure Zechiël away from De Kuip last month, offering €10 million excluding bonuses and a sell-on percentage, but Feyenoord rejected it out of hand.

Now, though, the situation may have shifted, particularly at Lille. On Sunday, the club sold Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City for a fee worth up to €100 million, with €95 million paid up front and a further €5 million possible in bonuses.

Armed with that money, Lille have returned for Zechiël. Club watchers Joost Blaauwhof and Martijn Krabbendam report that the French side have made contact with Feyenoord again and intend to submit a considerably improved offer.

On the pitch, Zechiël has only pushed his value higher. Under head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the midfielder has become an undisputed starter and already has three goals and one assist from three Eredivisie matches.

This season has finally brought him his chance at De Kuip after earlier loan spells at Sparta Rotterdam and FC Utrecht, and for now he is taking it with both hands.

Earlier, Feyenoord had already made it clear they want to keep Zechiël at all costs. Krabbendam said at the time that the rejection of the €10 million bid was not designed to force Lille into offering more, but came from the belief that the midfielder can become important for the Rotterdam club.

"The midfielder himself may possibly want to make the move, but it will be a difficult transfer," VI writes.