Transfer Centre

Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas hints at Nabil Fekir, Memphis Depay exits

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 11 March 2019

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas admits that it will be difficult for the club to keep hold of their star players such as Nabil Fekir and Memphis Depay this summer.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has admitted that his side will lose one of their star performers this summer.

A number of Lyon players have been linked with big-money moves to some of Europe's biggest clubs at the end of the campaign, having impressed in Ligue 1 and the Champions League so far this season.

Nabil Fekir was close to joining Liverpool last summer, while Memphis Depay has been linked with Chelsea and both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are understood to be tracking Tanguy Ndombele.

Aulas acknowledged that it would be particularly difficult to keep Fekir or Depay, but insists that only one will be allowed to leave the club while hinting that he will not sanction an exit for Houssem Aouar.

"We will only let one player go from those solicited. I do not know which one because there are many who have been solicited. It will take a big, big effort to try to convince Nabil, our world champion from the academy, to stay when he was almost sure he could go," he told Telefoot.

"We made a big effort to convince Nabil who is our world champion, when he was announced on the start. I'll be honest, it's easier for us to let go of Depay for example. Players like Houssem are programmed to leave from a big team of Lyon. After 32 years of experience, I can say that these kind of players are the future of this club.

"It's easier, of course [to let Depay go than Aouar]. Houssem is scheduled to be part of the European Championship team which will be, for sure, playing in Lyon in the coming years. But the conditions of the offers and the desire of the players must always be taken into account. After 32 years of experience, I always know that it's not my own desires that are chosen when it comes to transfers."

Lyon currently sit third in the Ligue 1 table and drew 0-0 with Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.