Zaragoza Hitman Ricardo Oliveira Tempted By Lyon’s Address

Olympique Lyonnais’ hand has been forced in the transfer market as Sidney Govou picked up a season-ending Achilles injury last weekend while temperamental striker Fred has announced his intention to leave the Rhône Valley as soon as possible. General manager Claude Puel and president Jean-Michel Aulas have both announced publicly that les Gones will not buy players for the sake of it, however, they now appear to have no options.

With an injury crisis in defence seemingly unrelenting, Lyon have made enquiries as to the availability of West Ham’s Julien Faubert to shore up their right side and, l’Equipe reports, are also thinking of bidding for Real Zaragoza’s Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira to add depth to an offensive line desperately lacking in numbers.

In Spain, the 28 year-old forward has been prolific, scoring eight goals this term in the second flight addition to the 18 he accrued in the Primera División last season when he was at the club on loan from AC Milan.

A stumbling block may prove to be the length of the player’s contract as he is due to remain in Zaragoza until 2013, having only joined the club on a permanent basis during the summer having also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Ricardo Oliveira has admitted that he could be tempted by the switch. “I learned about this in the press, however, I am happy with this news because they [Lyon] are a great club,” he told French radio station RMC yesterday. “We are talking about one of the biggest clubs in the world in my opinion. When a club like Olympique is interested, I am naturally happy, however, I am under contract with Zaragoza.

“Zaragoza have not told me that there has been any contact and, until now, nobody had called me.”

Lyon will not be myopic in their search for reinforcements as Steve Savidan has been linked with a big money move to the Stade Gerland.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com