Despite a recruitment ban pronounced by the DNCG on Friday evening, the Rhone club continues its scouting work and the OL recruitment unit fell in love with Turkey.
Last summer, Olympique Lyonnais was rather active during the summer transfer window, notably recruiting Moussa Niakhaté in the defensive sector. After a few missed matches at the start of the season, the Senegalese international has turned things around and established himself as the boss of Lyon's defense. Besides him, however, no one really stands out between Clinton Mata and Duje Caleta-Car. Pierre Sage believes that a qualitative leap is possible in this position, which is why OL continues to scan Europe in search of a great long-term opportunity even if for January, Lyon is banned from recruiting.
According to the journalist's information Ekrem KonurOlympique Lyonnais is not indifferent to the profile of Taha Altikardes, a 21-year-old Turkish central defender who plays for Göztepe. At the end of the contract in June 2026, it could be accessible for a reasonable sum next summer. But for OL, the most difficult thing will be to convince the player, because the competition will be tough for this 1m90 defender. Anderlecht, La Gantoise, Feyenoord, Mainz and even Union Berlin are in the running, as are Juventus Turin.
Juve urgently needs a defender
The Old Lady will undoubtedly be OL's most serious competitor in this matter and could move very quickly to recruit Taha Altikardes because since Bremer's injury, Thiago Motta no longer has many solutions at his disposal in central defense. OL, banned from recruiting next January, could therefore be powerless in the event that Juventus Turin comes to attack Altikardes during the winter transfer window.
