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After a transfer fee agreement was struck, Olympique Lyonnais is now almost set to hijack AS Monaco's move for FC Metz striker Georges Mikautadze (23), according to L'Équipe. Although Mikautadze's return to Metz from Ajax was confirmed earlier this summer, it was inevitable that the Georgia international would leave Les Grenats, particularly following the team's relegation to the French Ligue 2.
West Ham United and several other Ligue 1 teams had been vying for the striker's signing, and there had been intense competition. With agreements nearly finalized with the player, a deal with Metz, and a medical scheduled, it appeared as though AS Monaco would win the race. Mikautadze had his heart set on moving to Lyon, his birth city, but he was anticipated in the Principality by the weekend or at the latest this week.
He has been set on playing for OL exclusively for Les Gones and Metz have now come to an understanding. Lyon's payment of €18 million (exclusive of bonuses) is considerably lower than the sum that Monaco and Les Grenats agreed upon. The Georgia international is scheduled to leave from his present holiday destination of Barcelona and head to Lyon on Tuesday for a medical examination. After that, he will tie up a five-year contract to join the Ligue 1 team.
Olympique Lyonnais had to hijack deal for striker Mikautadze
Mikautadze had previously reached a deal with Monaco, but he is now close to signing with Lyon, according to L'Equipe. He had told the club at the last minute that he planned on signing Lyon instead of arriving in Monaco tomorrow for a medical check.
Metz agreed to Lyon's offer without objecting to the player's request. Mikautadze, who scored three goals in four games for the unexpected Georgian national team, was among the top six scorers at UEFA Euro 2024. It's interesting to note that Mikautadze trained Lyon's academy from 2008 to 2015, but he was unable to establish himself in the main squad of his native team.