Beyond the need to strengthen Pierre Sage’s group, OL must also face this summer the obligation to part ways with certain players, either because they do not fit into the plans, or because their sale would relieve the club’s finances.
In Ligue 1, and especially at OL, it is good form to know how to juggle. Indeed, between the transfer window, the DNCG and TV rights, the leaders of French football have plenty to keep them busy. This summer, they will once again not be idle, with an uncertainty that did not exist in recent seasons, that of the amount they will receive thanks to the broadcasting of the championship. Since now a month and a half before the start of the competition, they still have no concrete vision on this subject, it would not be surprising if the vast majority of L1 teams are very cautious.
Olympique Lyonnais is not necessarily an exception to the rule. Even if this year, he passed the obstacle of the financial police without any problem, the fact remains that his accounts are still far from being in good shape. He can of course invest without restriction on the transfer market, as demonstrated by the price paid for his very likely future first recruit (Moussa Niakhatebetween 20 and 30 million euros), and even for the second, which could be Abner (8 M€).
The obligation to downsize the workforce
These recruitments will undoubtedly be followed by other arrivals, since the Rhone club must strengthen itself at least further in the middle with number 6 and a more creative element in order to improve its midfield. For the rest, it will certainly depend on sales, because we must also not forget that the workforce is today very large quantitatively. During the previous exercise, Pierre Sage and his staff had to lead the sessions with 27 players present, the infirmary being empty most of the time.
With the Europa League in addition, it will necessarily be necessary to have more than a core of 15 or 16 players, as we saw last year, but the group still remains far too large, especially if it is necessary to make room for young people, we especially think of Mamadou Sarr or possibly to Mohamed El ArouchThe wage bill is also an issue, with big salaries whose future is written in dotted lines in the Rhône, like Anthony LopesDejan Lovren or Nicolas TagliaficoSelling or even letting these boys go, especially the first two, so that they can find a place to fall back on, would allow OL to drastically reduce this source of expenditure.
Few players will be retained in the event of a satisfactory offer
And then there are the players who are a little towards the end of their cycle, those whose story is perhaps coming to an end and who also have a certain rating with European teams. This is particularly the case with Maxence He would lie down and Rayan Cherkitrained in Lyon and having already spent five full seasons or almost in their club of always. If for the moment, nothing has a priori accelerated for the two footballers of 24 and 20 years, it seems unlikely that they still wear this jersey in September, at the end of the transfer window.
Finally, we find a third category, that of men who clearly do not fit into the plans of the Rhone management. We can quote Sinaly DiomandéJohann LepenantPaul I’m with youand Amine’s return from loan Sarreven young Florent Sanchez. There are also some questions left, like Jake O’Brien et Adryelsonbecause it appears quite clearly that few players will be accepted if a good offer is made for them.
Olympique Lyonnais should therefore be very active this summer, which it already is. The precise outlines of the squad are currently difficult to determine, even a week before the resumption of training. One thing is certain, the Décines road will be classified red by Bison Futé in July and August with the significant crossover expected.
