Lyon, an ambitious Ligue 1 club, currently finds themselves at the bottom of the league table with only one point after four games, leading to speculation in the French press that Blanc’s tenure may be in jeopardy. Initially, Graham Potter was linked with the position, and SSN even suggested he was their preferred choice. However, seven months after departing from Chelsea, Potter decided that the timing was not right for him to make the move to Lyon.
As a result, Lyon has begun exploring other potential candidates, with Julen Lopetegui and the current Lille manager, Paulo Fonseca, reportedly under consideration.
Lopetegui’s exit from Wolves occurred on August 9 by mutual consent due to a difference of opinion regarding transfer policies. The former Spain national team head coach had led Wolves for nine months and had received widespread praise for his role in guiding the club away from the threat of relegation during the 2022/23 season. Lopetegui is also believed to be on Villarreal’s radar as a potential new manager.
Reports from AS indicate that Villarreal is keen to appoint a new manager during the international break to address their current 15th place standing in La Liga, having accumulated only three points from their first four games. However, it remains uncertain whether Lopetegui will accept this role, as his reputation remains high despite his decision to step away from the Wolves job.
Lopetegui’s association with Wolves had been a subject of interest for some time, with the club’s owners, Fosun, eventually securing his services last November after he departed from Sevilla. Upon his arrival, Wolves were languishing at the bottom of the Premier League, but Lopetegui managed to steer them to safety, securing a 13th-placed finish.