Brentford miss out on transfer target as striker refuses to give up on Lyon despite Ligue 1 side's financial distress

With the transfer window nearing its close, Premier League side Brentford have identified Lyon striker Mikautadze as a key target. The move was seen as a potential replacement for Yoane Wissa, who is pushing for a transfer to Newcastle. However, according to reports from France, the transfer has been halted by the player himself. Mikautadze has no intention of leaving Lyon this summer, despite the financial benefits his sale would bring to the club.

While Lyon are enjoying an excellent start to the season with two wins in two games, the club's management is facing an urgent financial deadline. The club need to raise approximately €40 million (£34m/$47m) from player sales before the end of the transfer window to balance their books. Their initial plan was to sell striker Malick Fofana, but his firm refusal to join Everton has now put Mikautadze's name in the spotlight. For Brentford, their interest in Mikautadze is critical as they have so far resisted Newcastle's bids for Wissa, finding it difficult to sanction the sale until a suitable replacement can be secured.

Mikautadze's refusal to leave is not driven by a desire for a bigger contract or a new challenge; rather, it is a deeply personal decision. The 24-year-old has a strong attachment to Lyon, his boyhood club, which he re-joined a year ago. Having been dismissed from the academy in 2015, he does not want to relive that painful experience, viewing another separation as a "betrayal." Furthermore, with the departure of star striker Alexandre Lacazette, Mikautadze is now ready to embrace the number one role in the attack, a position he is not willing to give up.

With Mikautadze refusing to be a part of the solution, Lyon's management is now forced to look for other players to sell in order to meet their financial targets. The transfer window is closing soon, and the pressure is mounting on the Ligue 1 club.