Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has told Lyon’s official website that a potential deal that would have seen the Ligue 1 club sell striker Bafetimbi Gomis to Premier League side Newcastle has failed after the Magpies pulled out of the deal.
The deal was rumored to be delayed because of agent fees, but after no progress was made on the deal in the past week, the Premier League side have decided to pursue other targets according to Sky Sports.
“We have to be humble, I’m ready to make myself available to discuss the situation with Bafetimbi. I think we both need to swallow our pride, myself being the first,” said Jean-Michel Aulas to Lyon’s official website according to Sky Sports.
“But there are no offers currently on the table.
“Bafetimbi needs to play football. I believe it would be a mistake to stay entrenched in our current positions. We have to work with his agent to find an amicable resolution that will see him happy to stay at Lyon.”
The Magpies had reportedly agreed on a £8.5 million fee for the French striker, but have decided to look for a different attacker following the collapse of the deal.
The French international has played his entire career in France, rising through the Saint-Étienne youth system to eventually reach the club’s first team in 2004.
The attacker played four seasons at the club, scoring 40 Ligue 1 goals, and being sent on loan to French outfit Troyes for one season in 2005.
However the attacker joined Lyon in 2009 for a €13 million fee and Gomis had signed a five-year deal with the club. The 27-year-old went on to play in 141 Ligue 1 matches for the club, scoring 50 goals in the process.
Lyon are now likely to try and find a way to keep the striker happy at the French club with no offers on the table for the attacker.