Olympique Lyonnais grapple with key absences as Sulc spotted at airport

Czech striker Pavel Sulc, 25, has not featured for Olympique Lyonnais since mid‑July. Although the club cited a injury, he was photographed at Lyon‑Saint‑Exupéry airport, fueling speculation that a transfer – reportedly to Leeds United – is imminent. Lyon bought Sulc for €7.5 million last summer, and his possible departure would remove a primary goal‑scoring option ahead of the Champions League third‑round tie against Sparta Prague.

Midfielder Mads Bidstrup is also sidelined with a cartilage problem in his knee, an issue that is expected to keep him out for at least two weeks. His absence adds to the unavailability of suspended defenders Moussa Niakhaté and Nicolás Tagliafico, leaving coach Paulo Fonseca to reshuffle the squad for the Sparta Prague match and the return leg on 11 August.