Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter rejects Lyon’s managerial offer

Earlier this week, the 48-year-old was named as the leading contender to succeed current head coach Laurent Blanc.

Blanc who has had a poor start to the new campaign is about to leave the Groupama Stadium this season.

Lyon made an approach to sign Potter as their manager, but the former Chelsea and Brighton manager turned down their offer.

John Textor, Lyon’s owner, thought that given Potter's success with Brighton in the Premier League, he would be the ideal leader to take the team back into the top half.

However, according to David Ornstein on X via The Athletic, “Graham Potter has declined the chance to replace Laurent Blanc as Lyon head coach. 

“48yo approached + top target for #OlympiqueLyonnais - seen as appealing but decided not the right time to return. Continues to evaluate the future after leaving Chelsea."

The managerial offer has been graciously rejected by Potter. Though the vacant position was seen as an "appealing prospect" by the ex-Prem boss, he finally determined that it was not the right moment to return to management.

The French powerhouses have just one point after four games and are currently dead last in Ligue 1.

Potter has been jobless since Chelsea sacked him in April and was replaced by interim boss Frank Lampard before Mauricio Pochettino took over in July.