Wednesday, 19th December, 2012
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has hinted at possible January departures for in-demand striker Bafetimbi Gomis and Brazilian star Michel Bastos, pondering openly that the presence of the duo may hinder their young team-mates.
Les Gones are keen to cut their wage bill, with the expensive new Stade Gerland to finance and a lack of Champions League football having started to bite at the club.
Aulas was forced to sell France number 1 Hugo Lloris to Tottenham Hotspur over the summer and now Gomis and Bastos may have to be sacrificed too.
Lyon have also started to put their faith in youth, bringing through a number of players from the youth set-up – and Aulas is keen their path to the first team should be smooth.
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"At the moment, Bastos and Gomis produce interesting performances, but do they allow other players from the [youth] centre to fully express themselves?", pondered Aulas to Le Progres.
"I do not know.
"So we look at our strategy.
"We have good experience of what it takes to run a club and not make mistakes.
"Decisions will be taken while trying to reach that goal, that is to say, finishing on the podium."
Both Gomis and Bastos are not short of suitors and would surely find destinations next month.
Gomis especially has a number of admirers, including English Premier League duo Chelsea and Liverpool.
The pair have had the 27-year-old watched and will not have been disappointed with what they have seen, as Gomis has found the back of the net 10 times in 18 Ligue 1 games this season.
Bastos too has impressed for Les Gones, scoring five times in nine games and looking a serious attacking threat.
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