Lens: This is our new keeper! Girona: No, he isn't

Everyone at the French Lens thought they did a terrific transfer job in the past few days. The Ligue 1 side sold their first-choice keeper Brice Samba to Rennes for around €15 million, as they had previously agreed on the arrival of Olympique Marseille's custodian Pau Lopez, who spent the past five months on loan at Girona.

However, even though Lens presented the Spaniard as the latest reinforcement, the La Liga side suddenly decided to keep the Spaniard until January 29 only a day later, completely spoiling Lens' plans since that condition was utterly unacceptable to them. So, the Blood and Gold will have to either find another transfer target and realize the job quickly or rely on understudies.

"If Ronaldo were playing in Ligue 1 right now, they would eat him up"

In any case, Lens boss Will Still will, for now, have to turn to his remaining alternatives: Burkina Faso international Herve Koffi and 36-year-old veteran Denis Petric. Either way, Lens have abruptly found themselves in a pretty delicate situation but have also become a perfect example of the common proverb: look before you leap.