Speculations about Georges Mikautadze’s possible departure are intensifying at Olympique Lyonnais. The club is about to appeal to the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) in an attempt to challenge the demotion to Ligue 2 imposed on it. Even in case of retention in League 1, the Lyon leadership would like to avoid such a situation. This uncertainty could lead to the departure of several key players, including the 24-year-old Georgian striker, targeted by AS Rome. Initially, OL hoped to get 20 million euros from this transfer, but the Romans would now demand double, or 40 million euros, due to the growing interest of Sunderland, newly promoted in the Premier League. It remains to be seen whether negotiations between the two clubs will succeed, and whether the Italian club will accept this new prize.

This period is marked by the expectation of the DNCG’s verdict, rather than the usual activity of the summer mercato in Decines. Players resumed training on Monday, including Brazilians Lucas Perret and Adryelson, whose future is uncertain. Perret, a player with a good market value, and Adryelson, who has not managed to win long-term, are likely to leave the club. Olympique Lyonnais will have to negotiate with care their departure, recalling that when they arrived from Botafogo in January 2024, the operation had included a 50% share to pay back to the carioca club, in addition to the 6.83 million euros initially spent.

The current financial situation of Olympique Lyonnais makes these resale clauses particularly difficult. The outcome of the DNCG call, scheduled for July 9, will have a decisive impact on the future of these players and on the club’s ability to negotiate their departures. OL will therefore have to exercise diplomacy and pragmatism in order to minimize potential financial losses and maintain a balanced workforce. The challenge is to find an agreement that will benefit both parties, while taking into account the financial constraints of the club.