Olympique Lyonnais is approaching this winter transfer window with a major constraint: downsizing its squad to alleviate finances weighed down by DNCG sanctions. With recruitment ambitions, notably for Botafogo's Thiago Almada and Luiz Henrique, paralyzed by the recruitment ban, coach Pierre Sage has clarified the club's priorities.
A transfer window focused on departures
Questioned this Thursday at a press conference, Pierre Sage ruled out any possibility of arrivals. “The needs are to downsize. We cannot, in view of the decisions taken by the DNCG, envisage anything,” he explained, recalling that the main objective remains to maintain financial stability while preserving the competitiveness of the team.
A different strategy from this summer
Unlike the summer transfer window, where entries and exits were mixed, this transfer period focuses only on departures. “We will not put a sector of the game in danger by releasing two players of the same profile,” said Sage, suggesting that each movement will be carefully considered.
Delicate choices ahead
With a ban on recruitment and an obligation to achieve results, OL must juggle between reducing its costs and maintaining a workforce capable of meeting the challenges in Ligue 1. If departures are expected, the club will have to ensure that they do not weaken not key sectors, in an already very tense context for Les Gones.
Supporter of En Avant de Guingamp, the best of the Breton clubs, I prefer to meet Yannis Salibur, Cristophe Kerbrat or Jeremy Sorbon rather than Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Sergio Ramos.
