From a midfielder with an experienced option from Italy, to a former offensive target whose situation has evolved, including a young defender highly coveted in the Premier League, Marseille management is exploring several files with very distinct profiles. Here are the 3 Mercato OM news for this Saturday January 3, 2026.
1. This track from Italy is gaining momentum!
According to some rumorsthe Marseille club would be very interested in Rolando Mandragoraexperienced defensive midfielder currently playing at Fiorentina.
Aged 28 and an Italian international, Mandragora is a player already known in Italy for his role at the heart of the game, with previous stints at Juventus and to Udinese. This season, he notably registered 5 goals in 17 Serie A matcheswhich highlights his defensive as well as offensive contribution to the game.
For the moment, the file does not look simple. Mandragora has recently extended his contract until 2028 with Fiorentina, which theoretically complicates any possibility of immediate departure. However, the difficult season of the Violacurrently in difficulty in Serie A, could push the Florentine leaders to carry out a major housecleaning, of which the Italian environment could be one of the main concerned.
OM has already made contact to inquire about the conditions of a transferaccording to Italian media, but it is not the only club interested. The Genoa also follows the file, just like Atalantawho has already taken action to try to convince Mandragora to join Bergamo during this transfer window.
This potential reinforcement is part of a broader strategy led by the duo Medhi Benatia – Pablo Longoriaeager to offer De Zerbi more solutions in the middle to defend, restart and impose their rhythm against opponents. If the possible recruitment of Mandrake would not become simple due to competition, its attractive profile and its experience in Serie A make it a track that is gaining more and more substance for OM this winter.
2. A summer rumor resurfaces!
Last summer, Only Noah had been a track followed carefully by theMarseille Olympic to reinforce the left wing. Finally, the 26-year-old Dutch winger chose to join the Napoliin Serie A, rather than coming to Marseille, for a transfer around the 25 million euros.
Six months later, the situation has changed radically. In Italy, the Neapolitan dream turned into disillusionment for Lang: only one achievement on the clock and performances considered too irregular led to the Italian club to consider putting it on the market this winteraccording to reported information.
Noa Lang who responds in his own way on his Instagram page in the wake of rumors concerning him.
Whether we like him or not, he wants to stay him, it shows and has always shown it. pic.twitter.com/aL9T7c5JLW
— SSC Napoli France (@SscNapoliFRA) January 2, 2026
This repositioning of Only Noah on the transfer list naturally creates discussions on the OM side. The Marseille club, which always seeks to strengthen its offensive sector under the leadership of Roberto DeZerbicould indeed see an interesting opportunity in this situation: Lang is a versatile player, capable of playing on one side, in support of the attacker or even at the forefront, thus offering a real rotation solution for the Marseille attack.
However, Lang’s mixed adventure in Naples does not completely erase doubts. The winger would not have managed to get along with Antonio Conte and failed to establish himself as a reliable value in the Italian eleven. In addition, the Partenopean club would still claim a significant sum of between 20 and 25 million eurosnot to mention a high salary which could chill the Marseille leaders, already vigilant about the financial balance of the project.
Clubs like Galatasaray have already come forward for the striker, which underlines that Lang still retains a certain attractiveness despite his recent difficulties.
3. OM want to compete with the Premier League for this young defender?
As January approaches, the management of theABOUT refines its priorities. If the Marseille club targets one or two midfielders as a priority as well as a right winger to relieve Mason Greenwoodthe defensive project is not set aside. The services deemed insufficient CJ Egan-Riley and the desire to anticipate a possible future departure from Leonardo Balerdi encourage Marseille leaders to monitor the market for central defenders.
In this context, Charlie Cresswell is among the profiles appreciated by Olympian recruitment. According to information from Ligue 1+, theMarseille Olympic closely follows the English defender TFC. At 23, the former player Leeds United has established himself as a major element of the Toulouse rearguard since his arrival in the summer of 2024.
Regular holder, Cresswell started again during the 17th day of Ligue 1 against Lens, confirming its status in the system of Toulouse. His athletic power, his defensive commitment and his consistency explain the interest aroused by several clubs.
However, the file promises to be complex for theABOUT. Recruited for around 4.5 million euros by the TFC, Charlie Cresswell saw its rating rise rapidly. His market value is now estimated at 15 million euros by Transfermarkt, but Toulouse would not consider negotiating below a significantly higher amount, around 25 million euros.
The chambering of @FlorianThauvin on Wesley Saïd’s goal 😝😂#TFCRCL pic.twitter.com/rT8L9HlYhp
— L1+ (@ligue1plus) January 2, 2026
Above all, foreign competition is very real. West Ham Unitedalready attentive to the player’s situation during the last summer transfer window, could take action as early as this month of January. The London club is going through a delicate period in Premier Leaguewith one of the most permeable defenses in the championship, and is actively seeking to strengthen in the center.
Under contract with Toulouse until 2028, Cresswell remains a major asset for the sporting project of the Haut-Garonne club, which wishes to keep it. For theMarseille Olympicengaged in a strategic winter transfer window under the direction of Roberto DeZerbithe file is therefore part of high financial and sporting competition, with limited room for maneuver in the short term.
Worth a look
