Lille manager Rudi Garcia has admitted that he is still unsure whether Mathieu Debuchy will stay at the club.
The French international has been linked with a move to Newcastle United and Inter Milan in one of the longest-running transfer stories of the summer.
Lille have stayed firm in their resolve to keep the full-back and Garcia says that he wants the situation sorted before the season begins.
He said: "Of course I would like to keep him, but whatever happens, he must be ready.
"There are deadlines in France, we start on August 15. I hope he will be with us for the start of the season and if this is not the case then we will have found a substitute who is just as good."
Garcia was speaking following Lille's friendly against Athletic Bilbao on Friday, a match in which Debuchy played for 30 minutes before being replaced.
