WEEKLY TRANSFER UPDATE

This July has had to have been the slowest transfer month in OL history, but have no fear: JMA says that things will definetly pick-up soon. Aulas says that he wants the squad to be trimmed down to twenty-five players from the current twenty-eight, so that will mean at least four to five players will have to leave: Boumsong, Kallstrom, Anderson, Mensah, and Piquionne being the prime candidates for departure. The shedding of weight and salary aside, OL will also probably be waiting till the last minute, in order to try to snap-up some bargain deals in a summer market that has been rather stagnant due to the World Cup, and the financial troubles that seem to be affecting most clubs around the globe, inducing an aversion to spending, and a precipitious drop in the prices of players.

IN:

CARLOS CARMONA: The Chilean international who currently plies his trade in Serie B side Reggina, is said to be on OL’s radar. Carmona is a defensive midfielder, which again adds fuel to the rumors that Toulalan might be sent back to keep Cris company, and that Makoun is on the way out.

CRIS: Cris recently said in an interview that the first proposal in the negotiations for his contract extension has been tabled by OL and though it was unnaceptable to him both in terms of length and monetary amount, he expects for there to be further progress and an eventual compromise to be met.

OUT:

PIQUIONNE: Freddy may be finally on the way out. According to L’Equipe, Piqs may have finally gotten what he wants and is probably Premier League-bound. OL is said to have reached an agreement with West Ham, for a reported fee of 1,25€M with bonuses potentially making it 2€M.

MAKOUN: France Football reports that Galatasaray are interested in JMAK. Obviously in the current climate, or even in the best of climates, Mak’s 14€M purchase price will be irretrievable, and the article says that a 7-8€M offer could be enough for the Cameroonian to depart.

KALLSTROM: Very much wanted to see his way through the door by management, Kim is said, in the same France Football article, to be a cheaper fall back to Makoun for Galatasaray. Kim was purchased for 7€M, so maybe half that sum or a little less plus bonuses, would be enough for the Turkish side to snag a deal on an experienced CL midfielder and international.

BOUMSONG: The Panathinaikos and Hamburg rumors continue to circulate, but no offers as of yet; and now West Ham, fresh off their potential acquisition of an OL player this week, are said to be looking into picking-up the French international at a bargain rate.

Boum has in not-so-many-words, been nuged towards the door by OL manangement, and he recently commented on his situation, in an interview with Lyon Capital: “I still have one year remaining on my contract, but the club doesn’t wish to extend it. Generally, in this type of case here, a player will prefer to leave. I made financial sacrifices in order to wear the Lyon kit, because I thought that I could be happy here, and that I had something that I could contribute to this club. Unfortunately, there will probably be a forced departure.

No comments yet from the club.

LOIC REMY: I know he’s not Lyonnais anymore but thought it would be interesting anyway. Remy has apparently been swept-up by one of the most vile squads on the planet, Cesspool/Liverpool. The English squad scooped the ex-Lyonnais prodigy up for a reported 14€M and maybe performance bonuses added on. As you can imagine, Loic is extatic and it’s highly doubtful OL will call in their right to match the offer, having picked-up a similar player already in Jimmy Briand, on the cheap.

Oh well. At least we got Lloris for Loic, so can’t cry too much.

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Category: Team News and Rumors