20.07.2015 21:47 h

Umtiti, Ferri extend Lyon deals

Highly-rated defender Samuel Umtiti and midfielder Jordan Ferri have extended their contracts with Lyon, the Ligue 1 club announced on Monday.

Umtiti has extended his deal by two years and is now tied to OL until 2019, while Ferri's new contract has been extended by three years and links him to the seven-time French champions until 2020.

21-year-old central defender Umtiti, who can also play as a left-back, is a product of Lyon's youth system and has captained France at under-21 level.

Ferri, 23, was also a youth academy graduate at the Stade de Gerland.

Both players were regulars in the side that finished second in Ligue 1 last season to qualify for the Champions League.

Their new deals come after fellow youth products Clément Grenier, Nabil Fekir, Corentin Tolisso and goalkeeper Anthony Lopes put pen to paper on longer-term contracts earlier this summer.

OL are now hoping to persuade striker Alexandre Lacazette, the top scorer in Ligue 1 last season and France's player of the year, to sign a new contract rather than be tempted by interest in him from leading clubs elsewhere.