As American businessman John Textor focuses on an attempted takeover of English club Everton, another team in his Eagle Football galaxy, Lyon, are reeling from a disastrous start to the season in Ligue 1.
Textor’s company bought Lyon in December 2022 and the 18 months since have been a roller-coaster ride for the seven-time French champions.
Last season, Lyon sacked two coaches in the first four months of the campaign. After 14 matches they were bottom of Ligue 1 with just seven points.
But Textor then made an inspired decision, appointing Pierre Sage as interim coach. Lyon enjoyed an astonishing revival to finish sixth, qualify for the Europa League and also reach the French Cup final.
Sage, 45, was then given a two-year deal but it has been a difficult summer for Lyon and their start to this campaign has revived memories of 12 months ago.
Textor has overseen big spending in the transfer market despite the economic downturn in French football caused by a new, knockdown domestic broadcast deal.
Senegal defender Moussa Niakhate arrived from Nottingham Forest for a club-record 31.9 million euros ($35.3m) despite not being a regular for the English side.
His arrival followed that of Orel Mangala, also signed from Forest for big money after a six-month loan deal.
Yet Mangala is already out of favour, and Lyon were eagerly hoping to raise funds in the final days before the closure of the transfer window on Friday.
Mangala has been linked with Everton, the club in Textor’s sights who also recently acquired Lyon’s Irish defender Jake O’Brien.
Lyon have been waiting for offers for goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, midfielder Maxence Caqueret and forward Rayan Cherki, all players who emerged from the club’s famed youth academy.
Another starlet, defender Mamadou Sarr, has gone to Strasbourg, and fans may be worried that Lyon are selling off part of their identity.
Textor, whose company also owns Brazil’s Botafogo and Belgian club Molenbeek, is open to selling his stake in Crystal Palace in order to acquire Everton.
But he was present last weekend to witness a dire Lyon performance in a 2-0 defeat by Monaco, which followed a 3-0 reverse in Rennes on Ligue 1’s opening weekend.
“We are not in optimum condition and I think that’s coming across in our performances,” admitted Sage, whose team are looking for their first points this season against Strasbourg on Friday.
“As much as I was ringing the alarm bell after the Monaco match, this week I have seen lots of positives in terms of the approach, attitude and dynamic at training,” a more optimistic Sage said on Thursday.
Player to watch: Bradley Barcola
The winger, 21, will have a key part to play for Paris Saint-Germain if the first season since Kylian Mbappe’s departure is to prove successful.
Barcola was so impressive last season that he was called up by France for Euro 2024. He has also been named in the latest squad after beginning this campaign in fine fashion.
He came off the bench to score in a 4-1 win at Le Havre on the opening night, then netted twice in last week’s 6-0 thrashing of Montpellier.
“He has incredible pace and quality,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “He is hungry and has the desire to improve and become a better player.”
Key stats
25 – PSG are unbeaten in 25 away Ligue 1 games ahead of Sunday’s trip to Lille.
3 – Brest finished third last season to qualify for the Champions League, but a loss against Saint-Etienne on Saturday would see them start a top-flight campaign with three straight defeats for the first time since 1979.
0 – Lyon have never failed to pick up a point in their first three matches of a top-flight season, but that will be the case this season if they lose to Strasbourg.
Fixtures (times GMT)
Friday
Lyon v Strasbourg (1845)
Saturday
Brest v Saint-Etienne (1500), Montpellier v Nantes (1700), Toulouse v Marseille (1900)
Sunday
Monaco v Lens (1300), Reims v Rennes, Le Havre v Auxerre, Angers v Nice (all 1500), Lille v Paris Saint-Germain (1845)
