Olympique Lyonnais (OL) is in the middle of a mercato, with several movements and negotiations underway. The club formalized the sale of Saël Kumbedi to Wolfsburg, with a purchase option of 6 million euros plus 2 million bonuses, OL maintaining a stake in future gains. This departure came as OL sought to strengthen its workforce, particularly in attack, and could separate from Georges Mikautadze to generate liquidity. At the same time, the club negotiates with César Azpilicueta, an experienced defender free of any contract after his visit to Atlético Madrid, to fill the departure of Kumbedi and bring his experience and leadership to the team.

The discussions around César Azpilicueta are complicated by the arrival of FC Seville, which made an offer to the Spanish defender and showed confidence in the conclusion of the operation. OL had initially targeted Azpilicueta to compensate for Kumbedi’s departure, but the Andalusian club intensified its efforts to secure its services, offering a one-year contract with an option for an additional season. This competition is an obstacle for OL, which must now speed up its recruitment plans.

In addition to looking for a central defender and a right winger, OL is also looking for an additional attacker. The club studied several profiles on the transfer market and could sell Georges Mikautadze to finance these acquisitions. These movements demonstrate OL’s willingness to strengthen its workforce for the coming season, while taking into account the financial constraints and opportunities offered by the transfer market.