Promising playmaker Marvin Martin agrees to join Lille

SOCHAUX, France (AFP) –

Sochaux’s France international playmaker Marvin Martin, pictured in May 2012, has agreed to join Lille and the two clubs are in talks over his transfer, Sochaux president Alexandre Lacombe revealed on Tuesday.

Sochaux’s France international playmaker Marvin Martin has agreed to join Lille and the two clubs are in talks over his transfer, Sochaux president Alexandre Lacombe revealed on Tuesday.

“We’re talking to Lille,” Lacombe told AFP. “We’re still to reach agreement on the fee and the structure of the transfer.

“He’s one of the top five midfielders in France. Lille realise that and other clubs realised that too.”

If and when an agreement is reached, the 24-year-old will sign a pre-contract agreement with Lille, as the transfer window does not open until June 13.

Martin, who has 11 caps for France, wanted to have the deal completed before Euro 2012 begins on Friday.

“It was fundamental for him,” explained Lacombe.

Having come through the youth ranks at Sochaux, Martin was under contract with the club until 2015.

He topped the Ligue 1 assists chart in the 2010-11 season with 17 assists but endured a more challenging campaign in 2011-12, with Sochaux not securing their top-flight status until the season’s final day.

Martin would join Lille as a replacement for Belgian attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, who on Monday completed a move to Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth £32 million ($49m).

A report in French sport newspaper L’Equipe on Tuesday said Martin would likely cost Lille between eight and 10m euros ($10m and $12.4m).