*10 hours ago*
Lyon is preparing to lose rising Georgian fullback Davit Niniashvili, with reports suggesting La Rochelle is the leading candidate to secure his services. This comes as the Georgian’s contract nears its end at the conclusion of the season.
Niniashvili, who joined Lyon in 2021, has been a standout performer and is now attracting significant attention from Top 14 clubs. With 24 players’ contracts set to expire, Niniashvili is among those likely to move on. Notably, Toulon and Toulouse are also showing interest in the 22-year-old talent.
La Rochelle, under the guidance of Ronan O’Gara, is actively seeking a successor for the veteran Brice Dulin. After missing out on Stade Francais fullback Leo Barre, La Rochelle has focused on Niniashvili and seems to be ahead in the pursuit.
Lyon’s president, Yann Roubert, confirmed that while the club has made an appealing offer to Niniashvili, they are unwilling to exceed it, emphasizing the value of the institution over any single player. “We made an offer to Davit that seems very good to us, but beyond which we will not go because in our eyes, no player is superior to the institution,” Roubert stated.
Despite this potential loss, Lyon is not devoid of promising players, having recently extended the contract of France scrumhalf Baptiste Couilloud until 2030.
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