According to RMC Sport, Olympique Lyonnais (OL) placed Ainsley Maitland-Niles at the centre of its recruitment priorities. The club reportedly contacted the English player several times during the summer and was preparing for an offer to convince OL to let him go. Maitland-Niles, able to move to several positions (defence, middle, attack), represents an opportunity for OL to meet the requirements of the DNCG, given its high salary and its expiry contract in two years. In the event of his departure, coach Paulo Fonseca considers several defensive options, either by trusting Saël Kumbedi and Teo Risic, or by repositioning Clinton Mata and recruiting a central defender.

The young midfielder Khalis Merah arouses enthusiasm within Olympique Lyonnais. His outstanding technical potential and maturity at stake impressed his teammates and coach Paulo Fonseca. The latter highlights the significant progress of young players and promises to give them more time to play at the right time. Corentin Tolisso, captain of the team, shares this opinion, insisting on the need for Merah to remain humble and to continue working to fully realize its potential. Merah’s future is often compared to that of Ryan Cherki, illustrating the hopes placed in this young nugget.

Finally, Nemanja Matic announced his departure from Olympique Lyonnais via his X account, putting an end to an adventure he described as “unforgettable”. He expresses his gratitude to the Lyon fans and wishes them good luck for the coming season. Despite the club’s sometimes criticized management, Paulo Fonseca wanted to emphasize John Textor’s unwavering support, which brought him to Lyon and always encouraged him. The Portuguese coach insists on the unity and positive atmosphere within the club, and on the commitment of all to move it towards a higher level.