Portugal international forward Eder has said that it is his aim to make his loan move to Lille from Swansea permanent.
The 28-year-old moved to the Liberty Stadium last summer from Braga for a fee of around £5 million but struggled to settle and after failing to find the net was sent to the Ligue 1 club, where he has rediscovered his goalscoring touch. After helping LOSC up the league standings by scoring five times and assisting four more, he wants to remain at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
“I would love to stay in Lille next season, and I would love to be a part of this exciting project. But it is not decided yet,” he admitted to Goal. “I’m happy here.
“I have been playing some of the very best football in my career with LOSC. I got a great opportunity here, and I have the trust of coach Frederic Antonetti. Each day I work hard to repay him for that.”
“We are all working hard to develop the team - and to enjoy even more success with this group of players, with this great club and the fans who really are behind us.”
It was not always this way for Antonetti’s side, who were languishing towards the foot of the table at Christmas. But their fortunes have transformed dramatically and, after a staggering run of form that has seen them win seven of their last eight matches, they are suddenly challenging for Europe.
“When I arrived, we were only 15th in Ligue1, and some people were talking about the risk of relegation. But now we are up there in the table, where the club belongs, and before the last two matches of the season we are fighting to qualify for Europe. It is amazing progress,” he said.
“We have had a fantastic run with only one defeat in our last 14 league games. It has been fantastic to be part of the development of this team, of this project. We have been growing as a team and as individual players - and our confidence is sky high right now.”
- Goal