Rangers’ Europa League rivals Lyon have sold a key man but signed a World Cup winner ahead of their upcoming trip to Ibrox.
The French giants will take on the champions of Scotland in Glasgow in a fortnight in the first fixture for both teams in Group A.
It will be a tough test for Steven Gerrard’s side, who haven’t shown anything like their best form in European action so far this season.
However, they should take confidence from previous Europa League triumphs under the Ibrox lights over the likes of Porto, Feyenoord and Braga, and the stadium will be rocking.
Lyon will be without Maxwel Cornet, who has been a key player for them for six years.
That’s because, after scoring 51 goals and notching 29 assists in 252 appearances for L’OL, he was sold to Burnley a few days before the end of the summer transfer window for a fee in the region of €15m (£12.9m) [Sky Sports].
The versatile Ivory Coast international’s departure certainly weakens Peter Bosz’s side, but it wasn’t all bad news for the Gers’ rivals in the final stages of the window.
That’s because Houssem Aouar stayed put despite being heavily linked with a move to the Premier League and they signed Jerome Boateng on a free transfer following his departure from Bayern Munich.
At 32, Boateng may well be just past his prime, but the 2014 World Cup winner should still strengthen Lyon’s defence considerably and he will be using the international break to work up to full fitness.
“I can’t wait to start this new chapter in my career and I want to give my best for this club,” he said [Olympique Lyon].
“I want to bring my experience to this team, and a winning mentality, especially for the team’s young players. Talking doesn’t help much; you have to work hard. I have done everything to stay in shape.”
Rangers will hope to have a host of players back available after the international break and in a boost, one impressive early-season performer has returned to training.
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