Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas has said he wants one or two more new recruits to follow Karl Toko Ekambi to the club in the winter transfer window, notably citing Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
Through to a cup final for the first time since 2012 and still in the running in the Coupe de France and the UEFA Champions League, Olympique Lyonnais’ future is looking bright – and Jean-Michel Aulas is out to keep it that way. The OL president is looking to bolster his squad – hit by season-ending injuries to star attackers Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adélaïde – in the winter transfer window.
‘Can’t afford to slip’
“We’re going to try to strengthen the team. It’s already been done with the arrival of Karl Toko-Ekambi [signed on Monday 20 January]. We’re going to keep doing it,” said Aulas, whose side won past LOSC on penalties on Tuesday night and are now set to face PSG in the last-ever Coupe de la Ligue final, at the Stade de France on Saturday 4 April. “We can’t afford to slip below the standards we have set for ourselves here at Lyon. We’re going to do everything we can to make up for the injuries we’ve suffered.”
With a Champions League round of 16 clash at home to Juventus looming on 26 February, Lyon boss Rudi Garcia will have his heart set on maintaining their blistering start to the New Year – five wins on the bounce in all competitions – and their busy schedule will require a bigger squad.
‘Balance’
But that’s more easily said than done, according to Aulas, given the explosion onto the scene by a number of graduate from the club’s renowned youth academy, notably striker Rayan Cherki – who starred in the Coupe de France at the weekend – and midfielder Maxence Caqueret.
“It’s not easy. The team is already at a good level, so we need to get players who are even better. But we mustn’t weaken the enthusiasm and momentum that has been created by the youth academy,” the OL honcho told French radio network RMC. “That’s where [sporting director] Juninho’s experience and [recruitment chief] Florian Maurice’s finesse are essential, in harmony with coach Rudi [Garcia]. I hope we’ll end up with another player, or maybe two, who will strengthen the squad very quickly.”
Contingency plan
President Aulas also spoke about Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, one of OL’s main transfer targets: “As long as his contract hasn’t been signed, we have to have several leads that allow us to have an alternative. There’s one in England and one, indeed, in Brazil. Even though he’s currently in Colombia with the national team. We’re chasing two players, but we’ll only be taking one of them. They’re both excellent players, but we can’t anything more until we’ve reached a conclusion. That’s why we’re following two tracks at the same time.”