Mads Bidstrup fits Fonseca’s Lyon plan as Red Bull-style ball-winner targeted | OneFootball

Lyon have identified Salzburg’s Mads Bidstrup, 25, as the ball-winner Paulo Fonseca wants to speed up their play. According to L'Équipe, with sales due before the end of June, OL have set their sights on the Dane from the Red Bull stable.

Bidstrup extended his deal in October to June 2029. The right-footer started 34 of 36 games, averaging more than 80 minutes, and operates either in a two-man midfield or as the lone holder.

Powerful at 1.75m, he is relentless in regaining possession, pressing and counter-pressing high. In transition he often plays first time, usually vertically, and his work-rate helps win duels, control tempo and shield the defence.

OL are braced for exits, with Tanner Tessmann likely to leave and Orel Mangala seeking more minutes. Fonseca has made Corentin Tolisso and Tyler Morton untouchable, and wants a tactically complementary compatriot alongside the more attacking Noah Nartey.

Trained at Copenhagen then Leipzig in 2018, Bidstrup joined Brentford from 2020 to 2022 and was part of their return to the Premier League after 74 years, moved to Nordsjaelland in 2022 to 2023, then signed for Salzburg in July 2023. He matured in Austria and, after coach Thomas Letsch arrived, became captain on two February 2025. His CV lists 19 Champions League matches, including the second and third qualifying rounds in August 2025.

He remains limited offensively and in the air, rarely shooting from distance. A hamstring problem in late September sidelined him from the trip to Groupama Stadium on two October, a 2-0 OL win in Europe.

Source: L'Équipe