Leaving the club he’d spent eight years at on a free in the summer, Steve Mandanda’s adaptation to the Premier League really hasn’t gone to plan.
The veteran goalkeeper, who was incredibly keen to spend some of his career in England, moved to Crystal Palace, but an injury occurring after nine league appearances and 17 goals conceded has put all of that on hold.
The French magazine state the player has had contacts with Andoni Zubizaretta, Marseille’s new director of football, and his desire to return to Ligue 1, specifically to his former club, is ‘very real’.
Currently recuperating from a knee operation, a deal in January is unlikely (but not impossible), and a move next summer could be a possibility if Marseille manage to convince Steve Parish to let the ‘best summer signing’ go so soon after him signing a three-year contract.
However, Palace hiring Sam Allardyce, who has a soft spot for Wayne Hennessey, could certainly play in Mandanda’s favour.
First, he needs to get back to full fitness.
