Club owner dismisses relegation talk which could come as bad news for Newcastle United

Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnaise have been handed a provisional relegation to Ligue 2 if the club can't improve their current financial position by the end of the season.

Lyon are €400 million in debt and as such will be forced to drop to the second tier of French football regardless of their league standing if they don't make a serious dent in their debts.

Newcastle United and Liverpool are keeping an eye on the situation as both clubs retain an interest in their France Under-21 winger Rayan Cherki.

It's expected that Lyon will have to sell some top players to inject funds back into the club and stave off the threat of relegation.

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John Textor has laughed off the threat of relegation

However, Lyon owner (and part-owner of Crystal Palace) John Textor has downplayed the idea of being relegated, bullishly telling L'Equipe that Lyon will not be relegated.

“I know that our situation makes some sceptical. I prefer the Premier League system which punishes clubs differently.

“We have resources that go well beyond the club. Even if we fail on all our global initiatives, of €700 million, our owners will not let the group sink. There is no chance of being relegated.”

Liverpool will be strong competition for Newcastle in the race for Rayan Cherki

Whether part of Textor's plan is to sell top players to raise funds is unclear, but this insistence that his side are not in danger is an odd take to have and his hubris could be his undoing, especially if he doesn't sanction a few sales in January.

Newcastle still have some homework to do on Rayan Cherki before deciding whether or not to make a move, but after Federico Chiesa has failed to find his feet at Liverpool, Arne Slot could be big competition for the 21-year-old.

We'll see how this one goes in the New Year.