We must quickly launch a lifeline between Rhône and Saône. Olympique Lyonnais had rarely counted so much on the winter transfer window, which opens on January 1, as the only way to save a season that looks like perdition.
The summer transfer window 2019 was not satisfactory. Far from there. It especially hurts the portfolio. Lyon spent a lot of money to recruit the Dane Joachim Andersen (26 million euros), the Brazilians Thiago Mendes (22 million euros) and Jean Lucas (8 million euros) and the Malian Youssouf Koné (9 million euros). All disappointed. Only ex-Angevin Jeff Reine-Adélaïde (24 million euros) was on the level, but he was injured until the end of the season. Like Memphis Depay, the captain and best player from Lyon.
Lyon, only 12th in Ligue 1, so far from its ambitions, seeks to strengthen everywhere. To save the season, and still hope for the podium. Juninho, the sports director, said it. He would like a player on each line (defense, midfield, attack). That's a lot, especially in January.
World champion Steven N'Zonzi declined
Jean-Michel Aulas, the president, Florian Maurice, the recruitment manager, Rudi Garcia, the coach who succeeded Sylvinho at the beginning of October, and Juninho are activating their networks. Not always in cohesion. Especially improvisation.
World champion Steven N'Zonzi, bogged down in Galatasaray, was surveyed. Like ex-Toulousain Etienne Capoue (Watford). They declined. Juninho also thought, without success, of the three-color international Lucas Digne (Everton).
OL collides with the famous squaring of the winter transfer window circle: only very good players can help it bounce back, but these rarely change teams in January. The only ones available are those who fail at their club. In the middle, the leaders are now trying to bring in the Portuguese Gedson Fernandes, in lack of playing time with Benfica. Another challenge for OL: Lucas Tousart, his defensive midfielder, tracked by Herta Berlin, ready to offer more than 20 million euros. A nice sum. But it's already hard to recruit a medium, so if you have to replace Tousart in addition…
Garcia imagines a duo Dembélé − Giroud
Lyon is the hottest when attacking, to support Moussa Dembélé. The club discusses with Kevin Gameiro (FC Valence), but Jean-Michel Aulas and Rudi Garcia appreciate in particular the Blues striker Olivier Giroud, 33, in lack of playing time at Chelsea and who must play for the next Euro. Garcia imagines a possible 4-4-2 with Dembélé and Giroud. The latter, sidelined by Inter Milan and Juventus Turin, is not closed to OL.
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
The hypothesis leading to a return of Hatem Ben Arfa is very unlikely. The 32-year-old ex-Parisian, without a club since leaving Rennes last June, also needs time to regain his level. And over time, OL do not have much if it wants to avoid the industrial accident of the black season.