Lucas Chevalier suggests he needs to leave Lille to become France's No.1

Lille goalkeeper among Europe's elite but has only one Under-21 cap

Lucas Chevalier's current status as France's No.3 goalkeeper and the limited opportunities for him at Lille mean he may have to seek a move away from the club if he is to challenge for the No.1 position with Les Bleus. The 20-year-old has established himself as one of the most exciting goalkeeping prospects in Europe since usurping Ivo Grbic as Lille's first choice in January 2022.

Chevalier has kept 14 clean sheets in 45 appearances for Les Dogues, including four this season as they sit atop Ligue 1, while his performances have also helped him earn a place in France's U21 side. However, despite his impressive club form, Chevalier has only been capped once by Les Espoirs and is yet to make his senior bow, with Mike Maignan, Alphonse Areola and Steve Mandanda preferred by Didier Deschamps.

Chevalier must play more regularly to challenge for France No.1 spot

While Chevalier has impressed when called upon for France's U21s, he needs to be playing regularly at the highest level to push Maignan for the No.1 jersey. The 27-year-old AC Milan goalkeeper has only managed 10 international appearances due to injury but remains the undisputed No.1, while Areola and Mandanda have also been capped more frequently than Chevalier during this World Cup cycle.

For that reason, Chevalier may have no choice but to move on from Lille in the pursuit of regular football. The French giants are not short of quality options between the posts, with Portugal U21 international Joao Virginia recently joining as a replacement for the injured Grbic, while Leo Jardim has also been linked with a switch to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Chevalier's contract at Lille runs until 2027, but he will need to weigh up the prospect of more game time elsewhere if he is to stake his claim as France's future No.1.