Foot Mercato report that 34-year-old ex-German international and Lyon central defender Jérôme Boateng is seeking a contract extension with the Ligue 1 club, with his current deal expiring in June 2023. The problem? OL want to rid of the player and are even eyeing a sale in next month’s window.

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“We want to win championships. Jean-Michel wants to return to the forefront of the European scene, I want to win the Champions’ League. I hope we can dream of that. I don’t like the PSG model, I hope we can get something off of them in the coming season,” – John Textor’s first words as the new owner of Lyon.

It is difficult to know if the short-term changes that the Rhône club will undergo beyond the direct injection of around €60m for the January transfer window, as indicated by local Lyon press, will also include the removal of a number of players.

Boateng, 34,  is out of contract next June. He is quietly hoping to extend his OL deal, especially as he recently rediscovered playing time, making 4 starts in the heart of the defence in OL’s last 5 matches, following the arrival of Laurent Blanc on the bench Lyonnais. However, we are heading more towards a departure for the German world champion… and perhaps more quickly than expected.

At OL, there is very clearly a plan to let him go freely to the club of his choice this January in the event of a concrete opportunity and wave any rights to a transfer fee.

According to an internal source from the Rhône club, part of the technical staff is even clearly pushing for this option, an unnamed club has approached the player’s entourage, according to Foot Mercato. The objective behind Boateng’s potential departure is twofold for Lyon. Cut Boateng’s big salary and make room for the arrival of a central defender, the avowed objective of Bruno Cheyrou, OL’s Head of Recruitment.

James Thorpe | GFFN