This is an observation made many times now: Olympique Lyonnais is not in a very stable financial situation. Worse still, she is more than critical. According to estimates, the club's current debt amounts to more than 500 million euros. Last summer, John Textor was notified by the DNCG that it would be in the club's interest to sell for at least 100 million euros. But in the end, at the close of the transfer window, the Lyon management is far from the mark (only €38M in sales).
In fact, John Textor no longer has much of a choice. The big sale is open and all the players making up the squad will not be accepted in the event of offers at fair value. If earlier, we mentioned the strong market values of Rayan Cherki and Malick Fofana, OL must above all look at players with low performance who would reduce finances in the event of their departure.
1- Maxence Caqueret
Child of the club or not, Maxence Caqueret will have no privileges at the opening of the next winter transfer window. The defensive midfielder has a low average of 6.77/10 in 11 matches played in all competitions this season. His impact on the field is too little for someone who has one of the highest salaries at Olympique Lyonnais (around €3.6M gross per year).
According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is estimated at €18M, the lowest since December 2021. It would therefore be wise for John Textor, who is in dire need of money, to look into the departure of Maxence Caqueret on the cusp of the winter transfer window 2025. Pierre Sage already seems to be preparing him since he had left him out of the group for the match against Auxerre for sporting reasons.
2- Ernest Nuamah
Arriving as a great hope at Olympique Lyonnais for an exorbitant amount of €28.5 million, Ernest Nuamah never managed to fully show his potential. If he delivered some good copies, his lack of consistency has become a source of questions about his real impact within the club. Above all, should we continue to persevere and see the future with him? As a reminder, he was close to leaving in the last minutes of the last summer transfer window but his transfer collapsed.
Like Maxence Caqueret, the Ghana international has not been decisive once this season. Worse, he only played 342 minutes in 9 games. A paltry return for someone who has just celebrated his 21st birthday. While his market value is estimated at €18 million, Ernest Nuamah could bring in a nice sum of money if sold. His strong potential has yet to blossom and perhaps he will achieve this in a healthier context for him? Whatever happens, OL will try not to sell him off even if it would be wise to count on him to replenish the coffers this winter.
3- Gift Orban
Since the start of the season, Gift Orban has hardly been used by Pierre Sage. The Nigerian striker has only participated in 5 matches in all competitions. In Ligue 1 and in only 3 matches played, he managed to score two goals. A player full of promise which is hampered by a recent decision which will not help his affairs. Left out of the group for the Nantes reception, the leading striker was penalized for a message addressed to the Auxerre executioner of OL, Diomandé.
Currently, Gift Orban has an estimated market value of €15 million, again according to Transfermarkt. The latter is under contract until June 2028 and if he does not have a very expensive salary (€1.8M gross per year), a departure would undeniably do good for the club's finances.
4- Said Benrahma
It is obvious now: Saïd Benrahma did not meet the expectations set by the club upon his arrival. While the club had gone above and beyond for his arrival which had been made complicated by West Ham, the Algerian striker definitely cannot display a sufficiently good level to stay in Lyon.
Author of two small goals and two assists in 11 matches in all competitions, the left winger does not meet the expectations of Olympique Lyonnais. While its market value is estimated at €15 million, the latter is only decreasing. John Textor could therefore consider selling it before it is no longer a profitable investment. As a reminder, he has the third highest salary at the club after more than €5 million gross per year.
Unhappy supporter – and that's an understatement – of the Girondins de Bordeaux, I cheat my despair by following other parts of world football.
