Dejan Lovren (34), Rayan Cherki (20), and Pierre Sage are all playing a less significant role. According to L’Équipe, two of the most paid players at Olympique Lyonnais are expected to leave this summer.
It’s no secret that Lyon wants to take advantage of Cherki. At the end of the season, the France U21 international, who is currently the seventh-highest paid player for the club, will have just one year left on his contract. As a result, OL feels that now is the right moment to profit from the player, who has been unable to establish a consistent position in Sage’s plans.
L’Équipe reported in December that Lyon could ask for as little as €10m for Cherki. Meanwhile, Lovren, the joint-third-highest earner in Lyon’s squad, who like Cherki has just one year remaining on his deal, could also leave. Given everything that he has done for Les Gones over two spells, the club would be willing to allow him to leave on a free transfer, if an interesting project presents itself.
At the end of the season, 33-year-old Anthony Lopes may also go from the team. Like Lovren, the Portuguese goalkeeper might be free to walk. The co-fifth-highest earner, he is anticipated to lose his position as No. 1 at the end of the season to Lucas Perri (26), and L’Équipe has mentioned that he could move to Portugal or Saudi Arabia, where there is a lot of interest.
