Marseille have known for quite some time that they’d need sales before the end of June in order to balance their books, or to make them at least look a little better.
The French club’s financial year ends on June 30th and there’s the very real prospect of a serious loss, which could have implications down the road.
Marseille have identified players who could be sold, sent agents off around Europe (mainly towards England), and yet here we are, on that same June 30th and they haven’t yet achieved it.
That’s not to say they’re giving up, and L’Equipe report Newcastle United could swoop in for a ‘surprise’ signing after West Ham attempts got ‘bogged down in the middle of multiple English intermediaries’.
The player in question is Morgan Sanson, who has been linked to several Premier League clubs. There’s been repeated false claims of offers from English sides, which probably makes it clear which agents are involved and what’s been going on.
The French newspaper adds: ‘At the same time, Newcastle, via other intermediaries, has approached the agents of the former Montpellier player to express interest, but with a reduced budget (estimated at some €20m). In this context, and while the transfer from Sanson to West Ham seems to be discounted in the short term in this transfer window, a surprise sale could come from elsewhere, one of the “historical” OM.’
By that, they mean Newcastle and the Ligue 1 club have done business before.
Sanson for €20m is a good deal. Although it’s hard to believe Newcastle would magic that money up today, it’s not impossible… they haven’t even got the issue of asking their manager if he likes the player.
As for West Ham, it sounds very much like an agent, and we can all have a good guess at who, is trying to persuade those in charge at the Hammers.
Meanwhile, there’s also the possibility of selling Lucas Ocampos to Sevilla for as little as €11m. Monchi knows a bargain and a club under pressure when he sees it.
