Despite the announcements concerning the reduction of the wage bill, Olympique Lyonnais (OL) is aware that it still has to carry out important divestitures in order to comply with the requirements of the National Directorate of Football Club Control (DNCG). Several key players are currently negotiating with other clubs, such as Corentin Tolisso with Manchester United or NeoM SC. The sale of Tolisso, though painful, would greatly relieve Lyon finances, and the club is willing to make an exception given its importance for the coming season. A less obvious situation concerns Jordan Veretout, whose departure seems inevitable after a regular season with OL. Although he has reached an agreement with Al-Arabi, negotiations are dragging on due to differences in the amount of the transfer.

OL are about to play their first friendly game of the summer, a match against Villefranche, which marks the beginning of a new era after two months of internal turbulence. These two months culminated with the re-entry into League 2, and the dismissal of John Textor from the club’s presidency and Eagle Football Group. Textor, once a central figure, lost much of its influence against Ares, the investment fund that financed its takeover of OL. The management of Eagle Football Holdings, now reinforced by Chris Mallon and Mark Affoltère, has increasing control over the club, and Textor’s future will depend on Ares and other shareholders’ willingness to neutralize it.

OL’s financial situation remains precarious, as demonstrated by the recent transfer from Thiago Almada to Atletico Madrid. Although John Textor no longer has decision-making power, he remains involved in the club’s affairs. The future of OL will depend on Ares’s strategy, which could consider a complete takeover by declaring a depreciation of the club’s value. The crucial question is when the investment fund will take concrete steps to stabilize the team and ensure its sport and financial future.