Lille have reached an agreement on personal terms with Başar Önal as they pursue a summer deal for the NEC Nijmegen winger. The French club remain in negotiations with the Dutch side, who are reportedly holding out for a fee of approximately €7 million to sanction the transfer of the 21-year-old.
The Dutch-born Turkey youth international enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season, registering nine goals and nine assists in 34 appearances across all competitions. His direct involvement in 18 goals underlined his importance to the attack, with his performances proving vital during NEC’s run to the KNVB Cup final, where they ultimately suffered a 5-1 defeat against AZ Alkmaar.
Standing Out in the Eredivisie
Önal has developed into a key creative force since establishing himself in NEC’s senior squad. Operating primarily as a winger, the young attacker demonstrated both vision and composure in front of goal throughout the previous campaign. His consistent output helped maintain the club’s competitive edge across multiple competitions, marking him as one of the emerging talents in the Dutch top flight.
Lille’s Summer Rebuild
The potential acquisition addresses Lille’s urgent need to strengthen their wide positions following an inconsistent period earlier this year. The Ligue 1 outfit experienced a damaging poor run of form at the start of the calendar year, with midseason attacking recruits Gaëtan Perrin and Noah Edjouma failing to make the anticipated impact.
The situation has become increasingly pressing with current winger Matias Fernandez-Pardo heavily linked with a big-money departure this summer. Lille view Önal as a strategic addition to bolster their attacking resources and provide competition out wide.
With personal terms already agreed between the player and the French club, the transfer now hinges on whether Lille will meet NEC’s valuation. The agreement suggests Önal is keen to make the switch to French football, though the deal remains contingent on the clubs finalising the financial structure in the coming days.