Lyon Give Nabil Fekir Green Light To Leave

By Max Wise

Olympique Lyon will not stand in the way of captain Nabil Fekir making a summer move away from the club, according to president Jean Michel Aulas.

Fekir almost joined Liverpool in last season’s summer transfer window for £53m but the deal fell through at the eleventh hour after the Champions League finalists raised concerns about his persistent knee injuries.

Fekir, who won the FIFA World Cup with France last summer, has however enjoyed a largely injury-free season for Lyon, featuring in 39 games across all competitions, scoring 12 goals as well as laying on nine assists for his teammates.

Lyon recorded a 3-2 away win at Nimes in their last Ligue 1 game of the season on Friday night to seal third place, and club president Aulas revealed that Fekir, who has just one year left on his current contract, will be allowed to leave the Groupama stadium this summer.

‘Effectively, Nabil is outside [of the two departures we already expect to happen], because we have an understanding that he can go,’ said Aulas.

‘Thanks Nabil for bringing what he brought, we have an understanding to let him go.’

The 25-year-old club captain is not the only big name expected to leave Lyon this summer with former Manchester United forward, Memphis Depay, Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Dembele and Ferland Mendy all likely to leave.

Aulas added: "We will work on making signings. We are going to try to lose as few players as possible. We are also going to strengthen.

"We are quickly going to have it out with [new sporting director] Juninho and [head coach] Sylvinho."