Lyon really don’t want to lose Marcelo to West Ham this summer, reports Le Progres.
The French club are already looking to sign a central defender this summer and if Marcelo left for the Hammers then they’d need two.
That’s not only difficult in terms of identifying the players and agreeing transfers, but it would mean two defenders having to get used to a new club and carries extra risk.
But Marcelo is ‘not insensitive’ to West Ham’s interest, and that’s for financial reasons. Le Progres reports West Ham are willing to pay the player 50% more than he currently earns at Lyon.
For the 31 year old Brazilian that’s a big consideration.
Therefore, Lyon have to make an effort and the club’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, is quoted as saying: “We made him understand that we were counting on him.”
A pay rise is possible, according to the French claims, and with Marcelo’s contract ending in June 2020 maybe Lyon could add a year to it.