Olympique Lyon open to Paulo Fonseca's departure to Sporting Lisbon

Paulo Fonseca's departure from Olympique Lyon is becoming a serious possibility, with Sporting Lisbon interested in signing him during the upcoming international break.

L'Équipe reported that Sporting Lisbon started discussions a week ago with the environment of Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca and the management of Olympique Lyon, with all three parties open to completing the deal, despite not reaching a final agreement yet. Fonseca is likely to leave his position at the beginning of the next international break, returning to his home country to take charge of his childhood club, after ten years since his last coaching experience in Portugal with Sporting Braga.

The move comes under the leadership of Sporting Lisbon president, Frederico Varandas, who has placed Fonseca at the top of his list after considering several options, including Leonardo Jardim and Vítor Pereira. The 53-year-old coach is attracting interest from the Portuguese club and is drawn to the idea of returning to his home country, while Sporting is prepared to offer him a salary similar to what he currently earns with Olympique Lyon.

Paulo Fonseca is under contract with Olympique Lyon until June 2027, but he has not reached an agreement on an extension due to the financial difficulties faced by the French club, which will not be able to maintain his current salary, estimated between €350,000 and €400,000 per month, in a new contract. His departure could allow the club to save a significant portion of the wage bill, as they continue to be under financial scrutiny and need to sell players during the winter transfer window.

In contrast, Lyon have begun to think about options to succeed their potentially departing coach, with Tiago Motta's name put forward to the management, while Pierre Sage, the current manager of Crystal Palace, is held in high regard by some of the French club's supporters. However, no final decision has been made yet, amid anticipation of what the negotiations will yield in the coming days.