Mini-Transfer Update

By: John | July 9th, 2008

Nothing major to report on the transfer front. Most of the info from Inara’s last transfer post is still up to date. Here’s the latest:

OUT:

Gregory Coupet: Greg’s transfer to Atletico Madrid has been finalized. AM surely got one of the biggest bargains on the summer transfer market, having paid 1.5mill Euros + performance incentives(500,000 if Atletico makes it to the CL) for the veteran goalkeeper. The contract is said to be for 2 years with an extension option.

Sebastian Squillaci: Squillaci’s transfer to FC Seville continues to move along slowly. According to Spanish papers, the transfer should happen by next week at the latest. The deal is reported to be in the neighborhood of 6-7mill.

Anthony Reveillere: Apparently negotiations with Fiorentina have collapsed. The Italian club has brought in Gianlucca Comotto(Torino)and Juan Vargas(Catania),to fill their defensive needs. Obviously, we’ll have to wait and see what happens now with Reveillere, to see what Lyon does about the #2 RB spot. I’m hoping Rev stays and fills in the #2 RB and LB spots, but being that he’s disgruntled, that’s higly unlikely.

Cleber Anderson: According to Le Progress, Lyon is working out a loan deal with FC Sao Paulo. This will free up an EU spot and hopefully Anderson won’t find his way home after the spell is up.

Mathieu Bodmer: Claude Puel has emphatically slammed the door shut on PSG’s 8.5mill bid.

Mark Crosas: Crosas has publicly stated his desire to remain at Lyon permanently, but it seems that Crosas’ desire to stay at Stade Gerland will not be realized. Barca wanted to sell and Lyon did not want buy, preferring another loan spell, but Barca has decided to loan Crosas to Getafe CF instead.

Kim Kallstrom: I’ve struggled to find anything new on Kallstrom. The last news of his potential move to FC Seville was in the last week of June. However, with the signing of Le Mans star Kofi Ndric Romaric, it seems doubtful that Seville are still in the market for another left-sided central midfielder. I hope Kallstrom stays, especially after the departure of HBA and the gaping hole on the left side of the field. After a very young Miralem Pjanic, Kallstrom is the only left-footed offensive player on the roster.

Juninho: According to a British source, Daily Star on Sunday, Liverpool is interested in Juni’s services. Juninho came out a while ago and said that he would finish his career at Lyon, and when Puel came in, later made a counter-claim that he wouldn’t tolerate not being on the first team. Apparently Fred and Sidney Govou’s bipolar disorder is contagious. More probable is that Juhinho had a tacit understanding with Perrin that he would remain on the first team, despite next year’s overcrowded, higly talented and youthful midfield. Juni voiced his disapproval of Perrin’s sacking, saying that the club needed continuity.

Sidney Govou: PSG is said to have been in contact with Govou, according to Le Parisien. Lyon are said to be asking somewhere between 5-7mill.

In:

John Mensah: Apparently Mensah’s love affair with England wasn’t as strong as we were initially led to believe, and Lyon seem to be waiting on Squillaci’s transfer to Seville FC to be finalized in order to sign the Ghanaian CB. The price is supposedly around 8mill.

Other CB Possiblities:

Nicolas Burdisso: Burdisso is an Argentine CB playing for Inter Milan. He is a strong, versatile defender. Supposedly, he can play any position along the back line and after CB, is especially partial to RB. Burdisso can also score goals, with headers being his specialty. He’s won (3) caps for the Argentine NT. Burdisso is sought after by PSG, Villareal, and Fiorentina.

Thiago Silva: Silva is a big, physical, Brazilian central defender playing for Fluminense. The line of suitors is to long to list: Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan, Porto, Valencia, Liverpool, and so on…

Nicolas Plestan: Plestan plays CB for Lille LOSC and is one of Puel’s former players. Supposedly, not to many of the staff, besides Puel, are excited about him.

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie: Former Arsenal man, currently plays for FC Spartak Moscow. With the departure of HBA, and possibly Kim Kallstrom, Abeyie is being looked at to fill the LW spot as well as back-up striker. His price tag is said to be around 4mill.

Some Related Lyon Posts:

Category: Team News and Rumors, Transfers

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rougebleu

Puel stated Juni is an integral part of next season on OL's website, so I don't think we have any worries.
Ush

What's the situation on Collocini anybody know??
Jennifer Bin

I can frankly tell you that I do not want Nico at Lyon. As much as I adore him, his judgment is ....doubtful at best. I don't know how many times he screwed up and gave away goals. (I used to be convinced that the only reason he played so much is because Mancini dotes on him.) He's pretty good when combined with some other defenders, but I can't say he's reliable -- he does have his good days.
Jao

Asamoah Gyan is pretty good too. I was just thinking about Lyon getting Oliviera after reading that article about him on mercato365. Lyon should attempt to negotiate a loan and sign deal since Real are going to be playing in the Segunda because their (Real's) evaluation of him is way too high for a guy who completely folded up when he was at AC Milan.
andy

Why cant lyon buy Joao Moutinho, Miguel Veloso or Ricardo Quaresma?
Shane

You only want Quincy if you like guys who never pass the ball. At least that is how he plays for the Ghanaian national team. Very frustrating player to watch because he always holds onto the ball for too long.
John

Corey: I see them going to a 4-5-1 or maybe a 4-4-2, in order to accomodate all the midfielders. Plus, I don't see a 4-3-3 working with such young players at LW, especially in CL games, although Pjanic could certainly fill the role during league matches.
Also, there will be a source of friction if either Bodmer or Ederson don't play on the left. One of them may leave next season along with Makoun, if a 4-5-1 isn't employed, and he's not allowed to start along side Toulalan.
Aditya

I hope they bring in Mensah and Burdisso.
Martha

I'm not sure what Inter are doing with Burdisso -- being smart, Mourinho allegedly doesn't want him, but Nico was called up to the Argentine Olympic team and Inter are refusing to let him go, which seems an thing to do with a guy you plan to sell. I'm not a fan and would be happy to see him go but, to be fair, if he's playing next to someone totally unflappable, he's a capable CB. If he's expected to provide stability, though, it's a disaster, and I hate him out wide.

And Fiorentina are all set at right back now, for sure -- Comotto will start, and Martin Jorgensen will be his backup. Plus, the Italian press said Reveillere wanted a guaranteed starting spot, which was never going to happen in Florence.
Corey

Quincy would be a good signing, while Plestan is no more than a backup. Govou and Juni will not leave, while the bid for Bodmer was ridiculous. I have a feeling Grenier and Pjanic will be tried in the left wing role along with Kallstro, that is if Lyon continues with the 4-3-3. Alos, youth team player Lamine Gassama has join Valdivia, Mehamha, Tafer and Grenier in training with the full squad. Hope Lamine does enough to impress, he is a decent right back who may be converted to left back.
Julien

Puel would slam the door on a Bodmer offer. They worked well together at Lille.