Benrahma’s West Ham deal may not go through

The switch deal to make Said Benrahma’s mortgage go from West Ham to Lyon permanent may want to be in jeopardy as the French membership has been hit by way of pink tape, which could see the deal collapse.

Lyon has a £15m option to purchase Said Benrahma, now not an responsibility as many had assumed.

However, Lyon is presently below a transfer embargo, which is hoped to be lifted this summer, so they can’t exercising their choice to purchase Benrahma at current besides permission.

The Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion, France’s football monetary watchdog, has been monitoring Lyon’s transfer activities and wage bill due to economic irregularities in the finances introduced through Lyon boss John Textor. Lyon will need permission from the DNCG to recruit new players permanently.

Benrahma has been sensational following a rocky start in Ligue 1 and has managed to force his way into the first team. It is understood that Lyon is eager to workout the option, but if not, the player will return to West Ham.

Whether that would appeal to West Ham’s incoming boss Julen Lopetegui stays to be seen. However, it might also affect the Hammers’ budget if the accountants had been relying on the £15m to go closer to other transfers.