Belgium‑DR Congo defensive midfielder Orel Mangala of Lyon is being linked with a move to Bologna, with the Serie A club reportedly monitoring the 28-year-old ahead of a possible summer transfer.
Data from Transfermarkt lists the Olympique Lyon player, who can operate as a holding midfielder and is valued at €9.00m, as a target for the Italian side, with the likelihood of a deal currently rated at 34%. Mangala’s contractual situation at Lyon is unclear, with no end date recorded, fuelling speculation that the French club could listen to offers rather than risk him edging towards free agent territory further down the line.
Mangala, born in Brussels on 18 March 1998 and standing at 1.78m, holds both Belgian and DR Congo nationality. A right‑footed screening midfielder, he has established himself as a disciplined presence at the base of midfield, a profile that would fit Bologna’s possession-based, structurally rigid style in Serie A.
In Lyon colours this season, Mangala has featured in Ligue 1, including a recent outing against league opposition in which Lyon’s form has fluctuated as they seek stability in the French top flight. In his latest appearance – a narrow league defeat in early May, when Lyon lost after conceding late on – Mangala delivered a typically industrious display, breaking up play and helping protect the back line despite the reverse.
Having previously built his reputation across European leagues before arriving at Lyon, Mangala’s current market valuation of €9.00m is likely to be a key reference point in any negotiations, though there is no indication yet that a fee has been agreed between the clubs.
If a move to Bologna does materialise, it could offer Mangala a fresh tactical challenge in Serie A and a platform to enhance his reputation in a new league at what should be the peak years of his career.
