Lille's new owner remains "optimistic" about the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as coach, despite the announcement being held up by a "private" matter.
Bielsa, 61, has been linked to Lille ever since Gerard Lopez's takeover was announced earlier this season. Lopez, an ex-Formula One team owner, has now completed his purchase of the 2010-11 French double winners, who remain without a permanent coach since Frederic Antonetti was sacked in late November.
Antonetti's former assistant, Patrick Collot, was appointed interim boss, but despite an upturn in the team's fortunes, Lopez told RMC he still hopes to bring in Bielsa.
"I'm optimistic about it. If it happens, it won't be a one-year contract. I get on well with him. He's a perfectionist. What remains to be sorted out is not what people think. There are other things that are important for him," Lopez said.
"There's been an agreement for a long time now. Certain things need to be put in place, things that are rather private. If it were only about a contract, length, salary ... The problem isn't there. I would say it's 50-50. The reason why is private. If that thing is sorted out, it's 100 percent. If not, it's zero percent."
Lopez said Bielsa is already working in tandem with Luis Campos, Lopez's sporting advisor and previously sporting director at Monaco, on the club's prospective new arrivals.
"There's no discussion about players that does not involve getting opinions," Lopez said. "Marcelo is such a good friend that I contact him. And Luis contacts him about a variety of subjects. They talk almost daily."
Lopez said Collot was also involved in those talks. The former Lille forward was previously assistant coach to Claude Puel at the club and then at Lyon, and has overseen a run of 12 points from seven games that has lifted them out of trouble.
Lopez acknowledged Bielsa, who made an abrupt U-turn at Lazio last summer having previously resigned brusquely at Marseille, could still work in tandem with the current man in charge.
"It's possible. It's not far from what could happen," Lopez said. "There are other coaches with whom we're in contact. There is also the current coach who we want to support because he has done good work."