Mikautadze is not seen as an idealistic fit for the football that they hope to play at the Johan Cruyff Arena, and Ajax would like to sell the Georgian, Mohamed Toubache-Ter reports. The Eredivisie strugglers are hoping to generate interest from several Ligue 1 clubs, but the newly promoted side are strongly considering the return of the 23-year-old.

The Lyon academy graduate has struggled to make an impact in the Netherlands only making 4 appearances in the Eredivisie to date with Ajax finding themselves at the bottom of the table in the Dutch top flight. The Dutch giants are unlikely to let Mikautadze leave cheaply following their big outlay on the attacker in the summer which could make any move for Metz difficult. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Nice believe that the partial closure of the stand at the Allianz Riviera is down to the pyrotechnic devices used by fans during their match against OM on the 21st of October. The club go on to condemn the use of firecrackers in their statement, saying “firecrackers which add nothing to the atmosphere of the match and harm the Club and the vast majority of supporters.”

The INEOS-owned club have also argued that their fans have been “well-behaved”, both at home and during away games in recent months and are keen to ensure that their fans are not “stigmatized” for the behaviours of a few. Nice’s next home match is against Rennes on the 5th November. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Gbamin is now close to joining the Ligue 2 club who currently occupy one of the French second division’s relegation spots. The former Mainz midfielder was keen to return to France and move closer to his family who currently reside in Lille. The 28-year-old was close to joining CSKA Moscow in 2022 but no move ever materialised. 

The Ivorian midfielder will sign with Dunkerque on a contract until the end of the season. He spent last year on loan with Trabzonspor and made 20 appearances. Gbamin’s time at Everton was ravaged by injuries, with the midfielder missing a total of 99 games for club and country during his time on Merseyside. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The Armenian head coach reportedly called the former France international a “crybaby” to which Sakho did not respond too kindly and the altercation unfolded. Following the aftermath of the training ground incident, the 34-year-old has confirmed his departure from MHSC. 

In his statement, Sakho has said that he “declines all responsibility” for the altercation with Michel Der Zakarian and puts the incident down to the reasoning behind “ending his collaboration with Montpellier”. The former Paris Saint-Germain defender thanked the players, who he called his “little brothers”, La Paillade’s sporting director, Bruno Carotti and club president Laurent Nicollin. Sakho’s statement includes no mention of Der Zakarian. The centre-back is now available as a free agent. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The rocks have perforated the glass on the bus with shards of the broken glass hitting Lyon head coach Fabio Grosso. The Italian boss is reported to have been bleeding, according to Le Parisien. A video from Free Ligue 1 has shown the full extent of the damage to the Lyon coach as it arrived at the Stade Vélodrome.

At present, no one knows the seriousness of the injuries caused to the former Juventus youth coach. L’Équipe report that the injury suffered by the World Cup winner was a facial injury. Grosso’s assistant, Raffaele Longo, is also reported to have been hit in the eye by shards of glass as the windows on the right side of the bus exploded. Several players also look to be affected by the issue exiting the bus. 

No comment has yet been made by Lyon or the LFP on the incident with the game scheduled to kick off at 8:45 pm local time. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Lee Kang-in had a great opportunity to give Paris an early lead but Bizot was able to parry his effort away. The parried shot fell directly into the path of Bradley Barcola but the former Lyon winger couldn’t find the back of the net. Bizot was a busy man in the opening 5 minutes he was tasked with turning away Zaïre-Emery’s rasping shot from the edge of the area. Donnarumma was almost punished for a lackadaisical approach to playing out of the back, but Mounié couldn’t reach Le Douaron’s chipped cross.

Zaïre-Emery broke the deadlock in the 16th minute after bursting into space following Barcola’s pass and unleashing a rocket into the top corner from distance. The 17-year-old left Bizot with no chance. Lee Kang-in continued the rampage on Bizot’s goal as he linked up well with Ramos but the Dutch stopper was equal to his effort to keep it to 1-0.  

Mbappé made it two in the 27th minute after Lee Kang-in hit a wonderful pass to play the France captain in behind the Brest defence. The 24-year-old isolated Chardonnet and managed to beat him with ease, with the help of a ricochet, before placing his shot low beyond Bizot. Mbappé almost had his second and PSG’s third of the game with a low shot from the edge of the area but the Brest stopper was equal to it. 

Steve Mounié gave Brest a route back into the match on the stroke of halftime as he headed Kenny Lala’s whipped cross beyond Donnarumma in the Paris goal. Brest halved their deficit when PSG looked like they were cruising. The striker had the first opportunity of the second half following a corner but Danilo Pereira threw himself in front of the shot. Brest restored parity from the following corner. Jérémy Le Douaron met Del Castillo’s corner at the near post and glanced his header beyond the Italian stopper into the bottom corner to make it 2-2. 

Paris had sceptical chances from distance to level afterwards from Mbappé and Ruiz but both efforts were off target. It was Brest who looked most likely to find the lead though with Jérémy Le Douaron coming mightily close to finding his second but Donnarumma managed to get a big hand to his shot to turn it around the post. 

With 5 minutes to go, PSG were awarded a penalty following a clumsy challenge from Brassier which brought down Randal Kolo Muani in the area. Mbappé initially found his penalty saved by Bizot but it was parried straight back to him and he tapped the ball home on the rebound to restore PSG’s lead and secure all three points. 

PSG Player Ratings:

Gianluigi Donnarumma – 5

Achraf Hakimi – 6

Danilo Pereira – 6

Milan Škriniar – 5, The Slovakian defender continuously made a mess of playing out of the back and put PSG under unnecessary pressure. He struggled to contain Brest’s high press during the first half. 

Lucas Hernández – 6

Fabian Ruiz – 6

Warren Zaïre-Emery – 7, The 17-year-old largely impressed again with his ability to read the game at such a young age. His strike from 25 yards is sublime and a goal-of-the-season contender. 

Lee Kang-in – 7, The South Korean impressed from midfield with his ability to find space in attacking areas and his impeccable choice of pass. Lee’s ball for Mbappé in behind showed excellent technique and vision. 

Bradley Barcola – 6

Gonçalo Ramos – 5

Kylian Mbappé – 7, On an eventful afternoon for the stand-in PSG captain, his brace was the difference between the two sides and saved Les Parisiens’ blushes to ensure they travelled back to the capital with 3 points. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith 

Cucci, who was appointed as the successor to Jean Michel-Aulas after his turbulent departure from the Groupama Stadium, has only been in place as Lyon’s president for three and a half months. The Basque-born president’s departure will officially be confirmed in the coming weeks. Cucci is not the only person to be shuffled around within OL in recent weeks following Vincent Ponsot’s new appointment as General Manager of Lyon Women. 

Santiago Cucci was only viewed as an interim appointment as the club’s president and Textor has now already identified his successor at Lyon, who should be confirmed in the coming days. Cucci is expected to still appear before the DNCG in a month’s time on behalf of OL. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

L’Équipe reports that Adi Hütter is set to make one change from the team that beat Metz 2-1 last time out in Ligue 1, thanks to an inspired brace from Alexsandr Golovin. The Russian attacking midfielder is set to keep his place after his impressive display against the newly promoted side. 

The one change that Hütter is expected to make should see Monaco form a back three with Denis Zakaria returning as an unorthodox centre-back and former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun dropping to the bench in his place. The rest of the team who beat Metz should all keep their starting berths. 

Monaco likely XI vs Lille:

Philipp Köhn – Wilfried Singo, Denis Zakaria, Christian Matsima – Krepin Diatta, Mohamed Camara, Youssouf Fofana, Ismail Jakobs – Alexsandr Golovin, Wissam Ben Yedder, Takumi Minamino

GFFN | Liam Wraith

L’Équipe reports that Paulo Fonseca is set to make 5 changes from LOSC’s 2-1 success in Europe. The Portuguese head coach is expected to make three changes in defence with only Bafodé Diakité keeping his place. Ismaily, Alexsandro and Lenny Yoro should all return to the starting eleven in replace of Samuel Umtiti, Tiago Santos and Gabriel Gudmundsson.

Angel Gomes is expected to drop to the bench and be replaced by Nabil Bentaleb in midfield. Yusuf Yazıcı and Rémy Cabella should keep their places in attacking midfield and on the wing following finding the scoresheet in midweek. However, Edon Zhegrova should replace Adam Ounas in the starting lineup. Jonathan David will lead the line. 

Lille likely XI to face Monaco: 

Lucas Chevalier – Bafodé Diakité, Lenny Yoro, Alexsandro, Ismaily – Benjamin André, Nabil Bentaleb – Edon Zhegrova, Yusuf Yazıcı, Rémy Cabella – Jonathan David

GFFN | Liam Wraith

L’Équipe reports that Gennaro Gattuso is set to make three changes following Marseille’s success in European competition. The former Napoli manager is expected to make one change in defence with Bamo Meïte replacing Leonardo Balerdi who is suspended. Pau López is injured meaning Rubén Blanco will keep his place between the posts.  

Gattuso should name an unchanged midfield from the side that beat Athens. However, the Italian head coach should make two changes in attack with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ismaïla Sarr to return in place of Iliman Diaye and Vitinha. 

Marseille likely XI vs Lyon:

Rubén Blanco – Jonathan Clauss, Chancel Mbemba, Bamo Meïte, Renan Lodi – Geoffrey Kondogbia, Valentin Rongier, Jordan Veretout – Amine Harit, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ismaïla Sarr

GFFN | Liam Wraith