Even if Pablo Longoria has denied the contrary, OM should be active on the transfer market, even if the priority is to downsize. Arrivals section, Sofiane Diop (OGC Nice) is on the right track.
Yesterday, during his mid-season press conference, Pablo Longoria made several strong announcements for the winter transfer window. The president of OM swore that the priority was to downsize the squad and that no arrival would take place without this first step having been accomplished. According to L’Equipe, no less than six players are affected but there could be others. The two main departures could concern as many Englishmen: Angel Gomes and CJ Egan-Riley. Both arrived free this summer, both disappointed, both will not be selected. Their sales could bring in €30 million for OM (€12 million for the defender, €18 million for the midfielder).
Nearly €40 million recovered from sales?
Among the other players pushed out, there are the same ones as this summer, namely Pol Lirola, Ruben Blanco, Ulisses Garcia and Neal Maupay. Although Roberto De Zerbi occasionally played some of them, it was only because he had no one else on hand. He really doesn’t count on them anymore and they know it. But some, we are thinking in particular of Maupay, could cling to a very contract and refuse once again to leave. In any case, if OM manages to get these six players to leave, they can hope to bring in nearly €40 million into the coffers (€30 million for the English, €2 million for Lirola, €800,000 for Blanco, €4 million for Maupay and €3 million for Garcia, according to their rating on Transfermarkt)! Not bad !
This would unlock one or two arrivals. L’Equipe talks about Sofiane Diop as a priority. The Moroccan attacking midfielder has expressed the wish to leave OGC Nice. He can play as number ten but also on both sides and therefore occasionally replace Mason Greenwood or Igor Paixao. It would cost around €10 million. At OM, his profile is unanimous, especially since he is still young (25 years old).
