Bayer Leverkusen bid €32m for Lyon’s Afonso Moreira | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Bayer Leverkusen tabled a €32m bid over the weekend for Lyon winger Afonso Moreira, with OL needing a major sale before 30 June.

The Bundesliga club, sixth this season, have made the 21-year-old a priority.

OL could be pushed to sell before the DNCG hearing, echoing last summer when Georges Mikautadze was steered towards a €36m Villarreal move late in August to ease finances.

Signed 11 months ago for €2m from Sporting Portugal’s reserves, Moreira has since extended to 2030 and was a standout under Paulo Fonseca. He is currently reluctant to move, saying in May he was happy at Lyon and wanted to reach the Champions League with them.

Leverkusen may add bonuses to close the gap, and a move would bring Europa League football. Sporting would receive €6m from a 20% sell-on if €32m is agreed.

Early plans had centred on selling Tanner Tessmann, 24, and especially Malick Fofana, 21. Tessmann’s market has been quiet after his late-season injury and World Cup omission, while English interest in Fofana has been overtaken by Leverkusen’s push for Moreira.

Lyon are also in talks with Borussia Dortmund over 20-year-old winger Julien Duranville, Skysports reports. Duranville is open to joining, but the clubs remain apart, with Dortmund seeking more than €8m.

Lyon declined to comment, saying their focus is the DNCG process and Paulo Fonseca’s squad returning on 29 June.

Source: L'Équipe