With Gylfi Sigurdsson interesting Everton and Southampton, Swansea City should renew their interest in Ligue 1 star Ryad Boudebouz before it’s too late.
Swapping mid-table Montpellier for a thrilling Lyon side should appeal to Ryad Boudebouz. After all, OL stormed to the Europa League semi-final with one of the youngest, most exciting sides on the continent, battering Roma along the way.
There’s a reason their nickname, Les Gones, literally translates to ‘the kids’.
And, according to Foot 01, Lyon are hoping to add Boudebouz to an already prosperous attack of Alexandre Lacazette, Nabil Fekir and Mathieu Valbuena. Montpellier are reportedly willing to accept £8.5 million, a steal for a player with 11 goals and nine assists from midfield this season.
Therefore, this should not pass Swansea City by – four months after L’Equipe claimed Montpellier rejected a £6 million deadline day bid from the South Wales club.
Talismen
Boudebouz has not quite fulfilled the potential that once made him one of the European games most sought-after teenagers during his formative years with Sochaux. However, 2016/17 has been far and away the most consistent, and prolific, season of the Algerian international’s career.
In fact, without the 20 goals he has either scored or assisted this season, Montpellier may not have secured their place in Ligue 1 for another season.
In many ways, it’s easy to draw comparisons between Boudebouz and Swansea’s own playmaking talisman, Gylfi Sigurdsson. The supreme Icelander has been in irrepressible form at times this season, carrying the creative burden and also chipping in with vital goals.
Only Kevin De Bruyne has produced more assists this season, with Sigurdsson’s thumping free-kick setting up Fernando Llorente in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Sunderland – a result that secured The Swans’ safety.
Understandably, however, Sky Sports report that Everton and Southampton will go toe-to-toe for the £25 million-rated midfielder.
In Boudebouz, however, Swansea could find a ready-made replacement.
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