The summer transfer window will end in a few short days. Among the big Ligue 1 clubs, it is probably Olympique de Marseille that experienced the most upheaval in this hot month of January. Jordan Amavi was loaned out to Nice and Dario Benedetto, then on loan at Elche, moved to his home at Boca Juniors.
If Jorge Sampaoli had explained that he wanted four or five recruits, he admitted that he had somewhat exaggerated: ” I have to win, that’s what I’m here for. We know how difficult the current market is. The needs of the coach are linked to the fact that I have to survive, I prefer to exaggerate rather than be short. We are in a market of opportunities, I can’t choose which player I want, but find an element that comes closest. We talked about it, numerically, it’s correct. We are covered with the arrival of Kolasinac and Bakambu. For the rest we will see how the market and the workforce evolve, there may be departures. We change our strategy a little bit each time. Personally, every day, I hope to keep my squad and see if there are opportunities, we can try. I do not choose a particular player, it is impossible. It is not possible to do otherwise. Other clubs are in this situation. We discuss with the president to see how we can do ».
Numerically OM is complete
Indeed, who says two departures, says two arrivals. In a complicated financial context, with a National Club Management Directorate (DNCG) which monitors the payroll, Pablo Longoria had to release salaries to be able to register new players in the workforce. With these two starts. Cedric Bakambu, free since leaving China, and Sead Kolasinac, released by Arsenal, have arrived.
For the moment, the Marseille transfer window is over, at least in terms of arrivals. In any case, if no departure is made. However, this has been a key point for several years. First case to settle that of Boubacar Kamara. The midfielder, trained at OM, is out of contract in June and should therefore leave free. Pablo Longoria, on the sidelines of the presentation of Sead Kolasinac, repeated it, it is not pleasant to have players at the end of the contract. But, except improbable alignment of the planets, Kamara should leave the club free and not leave this winter.
Alvaro the biggest candidate for a departure
Sales to OM are complicated. The Spanish president of OM was perhaps counting on the return to the fore of Duje Caleta-Car to get offers. For the moment, there are some tracks in Italy, but not in England, a country which is favored by the Croatian. Twists and turns are never to be excluded at the very end of the transfer window.
Defense has become a busy game sector in Marseille. This is why the club would like to get rid of Alvaro Gonzalez, yet extended until 2024 at the end of last season. Demoted in the hierarchy of defenders by Jorge Sampaoli, he is currently not in favor of a departure. However, if there is one, it is him. The Mandanda case, which is no longer in play, will also be one of the last hot issues.
Barring a last-minute offer from across the Channel, Bamba Dieng, currently at the African Cup of Nations with Senegal, will also stay in Marseille. In terms of arrival, therefore, OM have fulfilled their objectives. For sales, this is still not the case. But there are a few days left and Pablo Longoria likes them…
