Lyon owner Jean-Michel Aulas has expressed his desire to take over a National Women's Soccer League club.

The Division 1 Feminines champions have won their domestic league title for the past 13 seasons and have also claimed the last four Champions League crowns.

And now the 70-year-old French businessman has revealed he could enter the American market as early as next year, however it is as yet unclear whether he intends to purchase an existing team or if he hopes to found a new side.

He said: “Our international expansion also involves a project in the United States with the decision to take over a women's football franchise.

“The project is progressing well and we aim to be operational before the start of the next season, in March to April 2020.”

Back in August it was reported that an expansion from nine to 12 teams could take place in the NWSL, with Major League Soccer outfit Atlanta United and United Soccer League teams Louisville City FC and Sacramento Republic FC linked with the move.

Lyon become the second European club to look into purchasing a US side after Barcelona were also said to be considering the idea 12 months ago, but nothing came of that.

The French side have started the season with five wins out of five, scoring 29 goals in the process.

The current squad boasts a number of England internationals in Nikita Parris, Izzy Christiansen, Alex Greenwood and the recently crowned UEFA Women's Player of the Year Lucy Bronze.