After a lot of media talk in France of Marseille looking for a new striker for next season, Bafétimbi Gomis’ role at the club was put in question.
The Swansea loanee, who was sent to France to get the game time he wouldn’t receive at the Liberty Stadium, has impressed greatly during the campaign, scoring 16 goals in 25 league games, and now Rudi Garcia has decided to try and keep him for 2017-18.
This is what L’Equipe report on Tuesday, with the former Roma manager letting Gomis know he is part of his plans, as things stand, for next season, but there are a few obstacles to overcome first.
If you’ve followed our articles over the past few months or so regarding this particular subject, you’ll know we’ve already questioned Marseille’s willingness to make Gomis one of their top earners next season, especially if they want to attract a marquee signing in the summer.
L’Equipe explain the Swansea player will want the club to at least match what he brings in at the Premier League club, which is around £90k/week, an amount the Ligue 1 side will probably want to reserve for other summer signings.
Bafétimbi Gomis is said to be open to the idea of becoming a central figure at the French club, but that will also depend on Swansea themselves.
After hinting Paul Clement would be happy to do without Gomis next season, WalesOnline recently quoted the manager expressing the possibility of the player still having some part to play at the club, perhaps as an alternative for Fernando Llorente.
It appears Marseille are preparing to test both Swansea’s and Gomis’ wills in the summer, with the latter of the two likely to be the deciding factor.
If the Ligue 1 side don’t match his demands, a stay at the Liberty Stadium next season shouldn’t be discarded.
Either that, or the offers from China and the Middle East that landed on his agent’s desk in January could make a welcome return in the summer.
