If the rumors are multiplying and concern almost everyone at OL this winter, the club's guideline remains very clear… And we apply it without panicking.
Tanner Tessmann in Serie A, Nemanja Matic announced in Como, Rayan Cherki also sent to Italy or to Liverpool, Galatasaray who is pushing for Georges Mikautadze, Corentin Tolisso towards Brighton… In recent days, rumors have multiplied around a big winter exodus at OL, creating a little anxiety-provoking climate among certain supporters. Obviously, because Lyon was sanctioned by the DNCG, rumors from agents about “everything must disappear” are now alive and well and are delighting the transfer gazettes.
The winter sale only concerns certain players
However, if we trust the facts and only the facts, Olympique Lyonnais remains straight to the ground in its strategy. At the start of the market, the doors only open for the undesirables (Lopes, Orban, Jeffinho). They have already made it possible to bring in €14.3 million and make salary savings. In Lyon, the strategy remains the same: we will try to lower the number of players under contract, the payroll and bring in €55 million in cash over the month of January, as promised to the DNCG last November. Current candidates for departure: Adryelson, Maxence Caqueret, Paul Akouokou, Saël Kumbedi, Mahamadou Diawara and Wilfried Zaha. Possible opening in the event of a satisfactory offer: Saïd Benrahma and Ernest Nuamah.
For the rest, no one is really untransferable but that comes at a certain price… and it will depend on the players' state of mind. If they ask to leave, OL will not hold them back. But, whether it's Corentin Tolisso, Rayan Cherki, Georges Mikautadze or even Nemanja Matic, we are very happy in Lyon… and we absolutely have no desire to leave the ship during the season. For pure Lyonnais, this can be understood. For the Serbian, this is just as true since the latter was able to find a family balance in the Capital of Gaul. We are quite far from the big winter sale and the alarmist comments made by some. Especially since John Textor has at least one quality: he is not the type to force anyone's hand to leave. Even if it concerns very high salaries.
Luiz Henrique finally sacrificed by OL?
As already explained, the payroll will automatically drop at the end of the season with the departures of Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Tagliafico. This is already planned and everything that is settled now will contribute to cleaning up finances more quickly to the extent that, if OL have appealed the DNCG sanction, they cannot imagine recruiting for a fee. this winter. If there is an arrival, it will not weigh on the transfer fee or on the payroll since it will involve free loans of Botafogo players belonging to Eagle Holdings (parent company of Eagle Football) which will take also responsible for the salary. The zero-cost operation which could concern Thiago Almada…and Luiz Henrique. Even if, for the second named, the current trend is, as L'Equipe announced and as we are able to confirm, rather to include his case in the big winter player sales.
Indeed, Globo reports that John Textor is now demanding €60 million from European clubs interested in Luiz Henrique. Even if this were to be settled at around €30 million, Eagle will already make a capital gain on a player purchased for €16 million from Bétis (largely financed by OL) … and whose sale would mainly benefit the economy of the Lyon club. Because yes, this is where the extension of John Textor's multi-ownership strategy is located. Rather than endangering its future income and the end of Lyon's season – in the race for qualification in the Champions League and a big run in the Europa League – other levers will be activated so that the real revolution… and the start big salaries take place between the end of May and June 30, the date of the closing of OL's 2024-25 accounts.
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