Monaco lures Ghezzal from Lyon

Algerian international winger Rachid Ghezzal is set to swap the spoils of the French culinary epicentre for the sun and sand of the Cote d'Azur.

Monaco announced Monday the signing of Ghezzal from Lyon, with the right-sided player joining the Ligue 1 holder as a like-for-like replacement for Manchester City signing Bernardo Silva.

A technically adept player with elite dribbling skills, Ghezzal, 25, joins Les Monegasques on a four-year deal through 2021 after failing to reach lofty expectations tethered to his potential at Lyon after a 13-year spell with Les Gones.

The move to the principality marks the latest transfer for two of France's busiest sides this summer.

Lyon's yard sale has seen first-team influences Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso, Maxime Gonalons, Emanuel Mammana, and Mathieu Valbuena leave the Stade des Lumieres, while Monaco has turned a pretty penny on the sales of Tiemoue Bakayoko, Benjamin Mendy and Silva.

Ghezzal told the principality side's official website: "I have the ambition to play at the highest level with Monaco, which is holding the title and has been to the semi-finals of the Champions League. After several seasons in Lyon, I needed a new challenge."