John Mensah willing to stay at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 – Ligue 1
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/John-Mensah-c18877 has reiterated his desire to stay with French Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyonnais. The 28-year-old spent two seasons on loan at English Premier League side Sunderland. However, the defender has now returned to his parent club
after his loan deal expired.
Mensah signed for Lyon in 2008 from Stade Rennais but failed to settle down at Stade Gerland under then-then Lyon coach Claude Puel. After making just 12 appearances under Puel, the Ghanaian departed for Sunderland.
Since then, the African has improved a lot and has been a modicum of consistency for Sunderland despite suffering from injuries.
The former Chievo man is now willing to stay with the club following the departure of Claude Puel with whom the central defender had a lot of problems. Remi Garde has just been appointed the new coach of Les Gones and the young tactician might want Mensah
to stay at the club for at least one season.
With Remi Garde looking to give the Black Stars’ http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Captain-c8314 one more chance with the Rhone giants, Mensah is also willing to stay at the club.
While talking to Ghanasoccernet.com, Mensah said, “Lyon is a great club and they are willing to give me enough playing time so why not stay here?”
John Mensah’s contract with Les Gones will expire on June 30, 2012 and the player has admitted that there are no offers for him from other clubs yet.
Furthermore, Remi Garde would want Mensah to stay at the club for the time being as Lyon are short on defensive numbers and by the end of the transfer window, the club might be left with few defenders. Croatian international http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dejan-Lovren-c10779 has been touted
for a move away from Stade Gerland while Brazilian defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cris-c9486 is in the final years of his playing career.
Last season, Pape Diakhate joined Lyon on loan from Dynamo Kyiv. The Senegalese failed to convince the Lyon management and has returned to his parent club. With so much uncertainty surrounding the club’s defensive ranks, Garde is willing to give the Ghanaian
one more chance to prove his worth to him.
Keeping Mensah at the Rhone club could be a very important decision made by Remi Garde. Mensah’s experience of playing at the top level would come in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Real-c30728 handy for Les Gones Lyon would do well to keep hold of a player they bought for 8.4 million Euros in
the summer of 2008.
During his time at Sunderland, Mensah made 34 league appearances and scored one goal. The former Genoa man’s time at Sunderland was blighted by injuries but he has shown his defensive qualities during his two-year stint with the Black Cats.
The Ghanaian might not be a regular starter if he chooses to stay with the Rhone club, but he could still play a useful part in Lyon’s resurrection after three trophy-less seasons.
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