The transfer deal to make Said Benrahma’s loan move from West Ham to Lyon permanent could be in jeopardy as the French club has been hit by red tape, which could see the deal collapse.

Lyon has a £15m option to buy Said Benrahma, not an obligation as many had assumed.

However, Lyon is currently under a transfer embargo, which is hoped to be lifted this summer, so they can’t exercise their option to buy Benrahma at present without permission.

The Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion, France’s football financial watchdog, has been monitoring Lyon’s transfer activities and wage bill due to financial irregularities in the budget presented by Lyon boss John Textor. Lyon will need permission from the DNCG to recruit new players permanently.

Benrahma has been sensational following a rocky start in Ligue 1 and has managed to force his way into the first team. It is understood that Lyon is keen to exercise the option, but if not, the player will return to West Ham.

Whether that would appeal to West Ham’s incoming boss Julen Lopetegui remains to be seen. However, it may impact the Hammers’ budget if the accountants had been relying on the £15m to go towards other transfers.