No Depay to Barcelona or Aouar to Arsenal, say Lyon

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Lyon sporting director Juninho Pernambucano says that Memphis Depay, Houssem Aouar and all of the club’s key players will stay put in January.

The Ligue 1 side failed to qualify for Europe this season, leading to the projected exodus of their stars.

Depay was expected to move to Barcelona and Aouar to Arsenal in the summer but neither transfer materialised in the end.

Both stars have been linked with resurrecting their transfers away from Lyon in the January transfer window, but Juninho says that no key men will depart.

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“There will be changes, but more for players where it was already planned – like Jean Lucas as [manager] Rudi Garcia asked for him to leave to play a bit more,” the ex-free kick specialist stated.

“The key players, they are not going to be moved. I hope above all that we maintain this level, that is the most important thing.”

Depay and Aouar have also been linked with some of Europe’s other biggest clubs, including Juventus, PSG and Real Madrid.

The Netherlands international sees his contract at Stade Gerland expire at the end of the season, meaning he will be able to negotiate a Bosman transfer from next month.