Bruno Lage lined up as potential Laurent Blanc replacement at Lyon

L’Équipe are reporting that Laurent Blanc’s role as manager at Olympique Lyonnais could quickly come under threat should the club endure a difficult start to the season. In the event of the Frenchman getting fired, Bruno Lage is being lined up as a potential replacement. 

The season is yet to begin, but after a difficult pre-season, there are already reports of Blanc’s Lyon future being in doubt. The Frenchman replaced Peter Bosz in the dugout at the Groupama Stadium just prior to the World Cup break. Despite a tough campaign, OL finished well, largely thanks to some impressive individual performances from the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki. 

However, Blanc has little credit in the bank with John Textor and Eagle Football. The former France international was brought in during the Jean-Michel Aulas era, and Blanc is fully aware that Lyon’s start to the season will dictate his future. If Les Gones had been endowed with more substantial financial means this summer, Blanc may already have been relieved of his duties, according to L’Équipe. 

Blanc’s contract runs until the end of the season, but should he leave before that, former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Benfica manager Lage could be in the running for the job. The Portuguese manager has just been hired at another of Textor’s clubs, Botafogo. Bringing Lage to France could therefore be an easy and swift operation. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle