Lyon interested in Southampton defender Duje Caleta-Car | OneFootball

Croatian defender Duje Caleta-Car left Marseille for Southampton just a year ago but could be on the verge of returning to France.

The Saints’ dismal performances last season resulted in their relegation from the Premier League, finishing at the bottom of the table.

They must sell some of their star players as they prepare for life in the second tier. Mislav Orsic has left for Trabzonspor, while Romeo Lavia is attracting interest.

According to Foot Mercato, the newly appointed Head of Recruitment at Lyon, Matthieu Louis-Jean, wants to sign an experienced central defender this summer.

Caleta-Car perfectly fits the profile that head coach Laurent Blanc has requested and playing alongside Dejan Lovren could appeal to the Croatian international.

Southampton will reportedly demand a fee of €10 million to part ways with Caleta-Car.

The 26-year-old spent four fruitful seasons at Marseille, amassing 130 appearances.

Another intriguing possibility arises if young defender Castello Lukeba departs for RB Leipzig.

The Bundesliga club has targeted Lukeba to replace Josko Gvardiol, who is close to joining Manchester City.

The Lukeba transfer could pave the way for Samuel Umtiti to return to his boyhood club.

He left Barcelona as a free agent and could return to France. He has been dealing with injuries over the past years but enjoyed a relatively hitch-free campaign at Lecce in Serie A last season.

However, Lyon are keeping their options open for now. They are exploring various avenues to bolster their defensive line-up.

The potential return of Caleta-Car to France would ignite excitement among Lyon fans. The centre-back showcased his prowess and reliability in his previous stint in Ligue 1.