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Lyon to consider former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Julen Lopetegui as new boss?

Lyon to consider former Wolves boss Lopetegui as new boss?
© Reuters
Lyon are reportedly considering whether to make a formal approach for ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Julen Lopetegui.

Lyon are reportedly considering whether to move for Julen Lopetegui as their new head coach.

The French outfit currently have Laurent Blanc in charge, but their start to the season and hostile reaction from the club's ultras last weekend have led to club officials contemplating a change.

Les Gones sit at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table, a consequence of losing three times and scoring just three goals during their opening four fixtures.

Owner John Textor is keen to overseen a turnaround in fortunes as soon as possible, with the club having already spent time away from European participation which had previously been the norm.

Earlier this week, it was claimed that former Chelsea boss Graham Potter had rejected the opportunity to replace Blanc with immediate effect.

Lyon coach Laurent Blanc reacts on September 3, 2023© Reuters

However, it appears that Lyon may have their sights on another manager who has recently seen his time in the Premier League come to an end.

According to Sky Sports News, Lopetegui has emerged as a potential candidate to make the switch to France should Blanc be removed from his position.

Lopetegui successfully guided Wolverhampton Wanderers to Premier League safety in 2022-23 having initially taken over with the club at the bottom of the standings.

Nevertheless, the Spaniard's ambitions to take Wolves up a level were not matched by owners Fosun, who could not deliver his transfer targets courtesy of wanting to ensure that all FFP criteria was being met.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui reacts on July 29, 2023© Reuters

As a result, the two parties reached a mutual agreement to part ways, but the 57-year-old's stock remains high given the impact that he made at Molineux.

After his successful Sevilla side had lost their way, Lopetegui went on to deliver 10 wins and six draws from his 27 matches in charge of Wolves in all competitions.

Villarreal have also been credited with an interest in Lopetegui, although it was recently suggested that the Yellow Submarine were focusing their attention on Raul, who manages Real Madrid's Castilla side.

The report adds that Lille manager Paulo Fonseca is also under consideration by the Lyon hierarchy, but any approach may be rebuffed with Lille in sixth place in France's top flight and having Europa Conference League football for 2023-24.

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Written by
Darren Plant

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Chelsea head coach Graham Potter during defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on February 26, 2023.
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG25205070244665
2Marseille25154652302249
3Nice25137549301946
4MonacoMonaco25135749321744
5Lille25128540271344
6Lyon25126746311542
7StrasbourgStrasbourg2511773932740
8Lens2510693029136
9Brest25113113840-236
10Toulouse259793227534
11Auxerre2587103638-231
12Rennes2592143536-129
13Angers2576122640-1427
14NantesNantes2559112843-1524
15Reims2557132640-1422
16Le HavreLe Havre2563162451-2721
17Saint-EtienneSt Etienne2555152557-3220
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier2543182159-3815


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