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- Winter Transfer Window Shuts with Lyon at the Bottom Stealing the Show in Ligue 1
Winter Transfer Window Shuts with Lyon at the Bottom Stealing the Show in Ligue 1
The historic Lyon, facing major challenges at the bottom of the standings, has been the highlight of the modest winter transfer market in the French league. The league has seen very few moves due to the difficult economic context of the clubs.
Lyon has invested around 39 million euros in six reinforcements so far, aiming to climb out of the bottom. They currently hold the 16th position in an 18-team league, which would mean facing relegation playoffs at the end of the season. Notable among these signings are the 17 million euros for the transfer of Belgian forward Malick Fofana and the 12 million euros paid for another striker, Nigerian Gift Emamanuel Orban, both from Belgian club Gent.
In addition, Lyon is finalizing the loan with an option to buy another Belgian, midfielder Orel Mangala (Nottingham Forest), in a deal that, if completed before midnight today, could become the most expensive transaction ever made by the French club.
Traditionally dominating the French market, PSG has been restrained, bringing in two Brazilians, each for 20 million euros: defender Lucas Beraldo (Sao Paulo) and 18-year-old midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, who will play on loan for the remainder of the season at his current club, Corinthians.
Another historic club, Marseille, currently seventh and aiming for European spots, has invested 10.5 million in left-back Quentin Merlin (Nantes), another 8 in Cameroonian striker Faris Moumbagna from Norwegian club Bodo, and an additional 4 in Swiss defender Ulisses Garcia from Young Boys Bern.
Nice, second in the table, has made the winter's main reinforcement with the arrival of forward Mohamed-Ali Cho from Real Sociedad in a 10-million-euro transfer.
Reims, in sixth place, has fished in Spain, signing left-back Sergio Akieme from Almería. The player has signed until 2028 in a transfer valued at around 6 million euros and an additional 4 in variables.
Rennes has brought in midfielder Azor Matusiwa (from Reims for 16 million plus variables) and right-back Alidu Seidu (11 million plus variables).
Monaco, currently up for sale, has only secured a loan for half a million euros for German defender Thilo Kehrer (West Ham), who is familiar with the French league from a previous stint with PSG. Etonde Romaric returns after his loan spell at Club Brugge