Having agreed to sell Castello Lukeba to RB Leipzig for €35m, Lyon are in need of a centre-back, which led John Textor to look internally.
Rather than turning to Brazil, like he has done in the past, he switched his gaze to Crystal Palace, where a certain Jake O’Brien is under contract.
That’s according to L’Equipe, who reveal that the Irish centre-back will be moving to Lyon from Selhurst Park in a €1m deal.
The young defender impressed while on loan at RWD Molenbeek last season, and there was even hope in Belgium that he could return there.
However, Textor has different plans for the Crystal Palace man, who is expected to ‘undergo his medical today’ ahead of the transfer to the Ligue 1 side.
It’s a big step up for O’Brien, but it’s one he clearly feels up to the task for, where he will play under Laurent Blanc, a great centre-back back in his day.
That being said, there is also a chance that he could be sent back to Belgium on loan depending on what his new manager’s assessment of him ends up being.
He will sign a four-year contract with Lyon, giving him plenty of time to eventually impress if this year isn’t the one.
