Ligue 1 transfer talk: Lyon eyeing up double defensive swoop in January

With Lyon fighting on multiple fronts, domestically and in Europe for potential silverware across the campaign, will they be tempted to strengthen defensively with two transfer targets?

Ligue 1 Transfer Rumours

El Chadaille Bitshiabu from Leipzig to Lyon

Lyon are reportedly in the market during the January transfer window to strengthen at the heart of their defence throughout this month.

The most recent potential defensive reinforcement to be linked with a move to the Groupama Stadium is Leipzig’s 20-year-old centre-back Bitshiabu.

Having made only three appearances across the Bundesliga this season for his current employers, it points to the French Under 20s international potentially swapping Germany for France.

Still clearly maturing on-and-off-the pitch, Bitshiabu is currently competing with Leipzig’s trial-and-tested first-choice centre-back pairing of Willi Orbán and Castello Lukeba.

A hamstring injury, which has ruled him out for four of the last five matches, hasn’t helped his pursuit of regular first-team minutes this season.

Considering his age and the fact that his contract isn’t expiring until June 2029, a short-term loan deal might be the more appealing option to all parties involved.

Abdukodir Khusanov from Manchester City to Lyon

Despite only signing on the dotted line at Manchester City in last year’s January transfer window, Khusanov has significantly fallen down the Citizens’ centre-back pecking order in recent times.

Admittedly, an ankle injury hasn’t helped the Uzbekistan international’s case, but it seems captain Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Nathan Aké are ahead of him in manager Pep Guardiola’s plans.

Even with Gvardiol restricted to the treatment room for an unspecified timescale after coming off against Chelsea, Khusanov isn’t guaranteed to start alongside Dias despite coming on in that game.

With Lyon looking to qualify for next season’s Champions League and looking to become the first French club to win the Europa League, Les Gones’ upper management might want to invest.

With manager Paulo Fonseca liking a back-three involving any of Clinton Mata, Nicolás Tagliafico, Ruben Kluivert, Moussa Niakhaté, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the addition of Khusanov might be an astute one.

Zakaria Aboukhlal from Torino to Nantes

Torino’s tricky winger Aboukhlal could be on his way to Ligue 1 if the reports are true. Operational across the whole of the front line, the Moroccan’s versatility has seemingly caught the attention of struggling Nantes.

Despite springing a surprise by beating title-challenging Marseille on Sunday, Les Canaris are currently caged in the relegation play-off position in the top flight of French football.

Having only been named twice on Torino manager Marco Baroni’s starting Serie A team sheet this season, there is every possibility that Aboukhlal could be on the move in January.

If the former Toulouse man can recapture his form from the 2022/23 and 2024/25 campaigns (G17, A9), Nantes could say they have found their answer to avoiding relegation.