In the summer just gone, Olympique de Marseille lost both Andre Ayew and Andre-Pierre Gignac on free transfers. With centre-back Nicolas N’Koulou unlikely to put pen to paper before his contract expires in 2016, it seems a large bid could persuade President Vincent Labrune to let the Cameroon international leave the club.
Newspaper L’Equipe are reporting that Norwich City are very interested in signing the 25-year-old, but it is unsure whether or not they would be willing to match the price Labrune would be looking for. It’s hard to imagine OM accepting anything less than €8 million this winter.
Despite Marseille’s sometimes lacklustre defending, N’Koulou has maintained a professional approach and has been one of the few defenders that coach Michel can rely on. Another reason why they would rather see him leave on a free, then have to play the next six months with Karim Rekik and Rolando in the centre of the defence.
LYON ENTER THE BEN YEDDER RACE
Wissam Ben Yedder’s name will be raised a lot in the next few weeks. Toulouse, threatened with relegation, may finally look to cash in on the Franco-Tunisian forward this winter – that is if someone matches their €10 million valuation.
Lyon may have come up with a solution. Jean-Michel Aulas has promised changes, and the 25-year-old, with five goals in 15 starts, could be the perfect signing.
To help OL reduce the fee they’d have to pay, it was suggested this morning that they would be willing to use Claudio Beauvue as a make-weight to secure the deal.
Toulouse receive a Ligue 1 striker, the former Guingamp man is saved from his Lyon nightmare and Ben Yedder gets the chance to prove himself at a bigger club.
ANGER LOOK TO STRENGTHEN
The departure of Ludovic Butelle to Club Brugges and the rumours surrounding the future of Abdoul Camara and Cheikh N’Doye, it will be refreshing for Angers fans to see their club linked with a couple of moves this winter.
Lyon’s former young hope, Rachid Ghezzal, has been linked with a move to Angers. The 23-year-old has made 11 appearances this season, scoring just once. He will know about the club from his former team mate Mohamed Yattara and would be attracted by the positive play of Stephane Moulin’s team this season.
Another player in their sights is Nigerian, Austin Amutu. The 22-year-old has been recommended by Arsene Wenger and is currently on trial at Israeli club Kiryat Shmona say L’Equipe.
