Lyon pres Aulas 'won't stand in the way' of summer exits

Clubs interested in the services of Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso have been put on alert after Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said he would not impede a slew of summer sales.

Numerous reports have linked Lacazette and Tolisso with moves away from the Stade des Lumieres - including Arsenal's advances in the neighbourhood of €35 million for Lacazette that were rejected last summer and Tolisso's veto of a switch to Napoli in January.

Aulas conceded that the club could use a financial boost.

"We don't have to do anything, but as we have a squad valued at more than €170 million, there will come a time when we have to cash in on that capital," Aulas told a conference call, according to L'Equipe.

A CIES Football Observatory valuation does rank Lyon as France's most financially viable squad based on a value of €212 million paired with a relatively scant €45 million on transfers.

Those favourable numbers are contrasted with losses of €2.3 million during the last half of 2016, prompting Aulas to consider selling some of Les Gones' marquee players.

It wouldn't be the first time Lyon has sold highly touted products of its famed academy. Karim Benzema's €41-million move to Real Madrid and Samuel Umtiti's €25-million transfer to Barcelona provide benchmarks for the fees that Lacazette and Tolisso could potentially fetch in the summer.

"As I did with Karim Benzema and Samuel Umtiti, if a player wants to leave and the offer is acceptable, we won't stand in the way," Aulas added.