Real Madrid apparently courting Lyon star

Spain’s top club Real Madrid have apparently set their sights on left-back Ferland Mendy of Olympique Lyon. The Marca reports that Real’s CEO Jose Angel Sanchez has already travelled to France for a first contact.

At the meeting with Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas, concrete negotiations on a summer transfer of the 23-year-old had not yet taken place. The boss of the Ligue 1 club, however, is said to have emphasized that Mendy would cost a redemption fee of 45 million euros.

With Olympique Lyon still in the Champions League and coach Bruno Genesio’s signs of a separation, Aulas would like to wait for Mendy to make a decision.

On the left defensive side of the Blancos, the 23-year-old would compete with Marcelo. Mendy, who is one of the regulars in Lyon and will be under contract until 2023, should be open to a change to the Spanish record champion.

It has been a disappointing season for the Madrileneans throughout: second place in the league is almost out of reach, in the Champions League and Cup it was out of reach early on.