Toon target ‘happy to stay at Lille’

THIAGO Maia insists he is “very happy” at Lille, despite Newcastle United declaring an interest in the midfielder.

The 21-year-old moved to France from Santos for an £11million fee last summer and impressed during his first Ligue 1 season, making 34 appearances.

Le10Sport have claimed that Newcastle have “made an offer” for the Brazil Under-23 international and, while that has not been confirmed by United, it is understood that Maia is a name who has been mentioned during transfer discussions at St James’ Park over the last six months.

Benitez is prioritising recruiting a No 10 this summer but, should Mikel Merino return to Spain, then the United manager will also look to strengthen his defensivemidfield department.

Lille are in a financial mess – and have even been threatened with relegation from Ligue 1 if they do not raise cash quickly – so they are receptive to selling Maia, though it is likely they will demand at least the £11m they paid for him less than 12 months ago.

The midfielder himself seems content to stay at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but Lille may take the decision out of his hands if they determine selling Maia is one of their best methods of generating muchneeded funs to stave off potential enforced relegation.

“I am very happy in Lille and I hope to continue so that I can gain a little more experience in Europe,” Maia told Brazilian outlet Globoesporte.com earlier this week.

“I know that this first season I had was about learning and it was not easy, not only for me but also for the other Brazilians, the other athletes and the coach as well.

“But I hope that what happened in the past does not happen in the present.

“What I felt most difficult about the adaptation was with food and language.

“Because my mother did not go with me at first, and then I had to eat what I had there, I got used to not eating rice, beans, meat and not having it was difficult for me.

“But soon after my mother went with me and things were getting on slowly – I even lost some muscle mass because I was not eating well at first.”