· 25 June 2025, 19:00
**Olympic Lyonnais aka Lyon, have been kicked out of the French top-tier following a financial audit and will play in Ligue 2 next season.**
The club from which Newcastle United acquired Bruno Guimaraes had been in financial trouble for a while, and the threat of being relegated has been looming over them for months.
When it first came to light, we suggested that Newcastle should look for a cut-price deal for Rayan Cherki, but Manchester City beat us to that one.
Now that the axe has fallen and the club will be relegated - although they will be appealing the decision - there's expected to be a mass exodus of their top players.
> [](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1937584867128279050)
Malick Fofana could be available for less than his value due to Lyon's financial woes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Player sales could help balance the books, but will, of course, damage their ability to compete, but that's their problem. Newcastle need players, and they just happen to have one of interest.
It was [recently reported](https://nufcfeed.com/newcastle-united-one-of-six-premier-league-clubs-reportedly-interested-in-signing-20-year-old-lyon-star-this-summer-1393947) that Newcastle had an interest in 20-year-old Belgian Malick Fofana, who plays primarily as a left winger, but can play down the right.
Fofana bagged 11 goals and six assists for Lyon in 41 appearances last season and is valued at £40 million.
Newcastle aren't the only club looking at Malick Fofana
-------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in the winger and will no doubt be watching on with interest to see what Lyon plan to do following the devastating news.
It perhaps feels a bit unfair picking the flesh off the bones of a club in peril, but they do need the money, so while Lowball FC could get a bargain due to the unfortunate circumstances, we shouldn't feel too bad about it.
Clubs have been trying to gouge us for more money since our takeover, so why should we be any less unscrupulous?