Mensah Can Leave – Lyon Coach

Ghanaian defender John Mensah's future at Olympique Lyon looks increasingly shaky after coach Claude Puel said he has made plans for next season without him. Mensah only joined Lyon last summer from Stade Rennes before injuries and red cards marred his campaign.

Now it seems Lyon are convinced they are better off without him and a week after club president Jean-Michel Aulas said he would be willing to sell him, Puel has added his voice to the ‘Mensah can leave’ chorus.

"Today the possibility of the two players leaving is even greater because I have already made my plans for next season,” Puel told Le Parisien newspaper about Mensah and Italian defender Fabio Grosso. “If both players receive proposals where there is mutual interest, we will study and allow them to leave.”

Mensah was a second half substitute in Lyon's pre-season friendly against Besiktas, but is increasingly looking set to play next season elsewhere. He was the subject of a €5milion bid from Galatasaray that was turned down by Lyon and was linked last week with a move to the English Premiership side West Ham United.

While on holidays in Ghana recently he told KickOffGhana.com he was open to the idea of a move, even though he insisted his first option was to remain with Lyon.

“I have always said footballers are like birds in flight –you never know where you end up. If Lyon agree I should talk to them and the offer is good, you never know. I don't think Lyon have seen the best of me. I got injured too many times and that really affected me. So I want to stay at the club and repay them for all the patience they have had for me up to date.”