French newspaper L’Equipe have a feature in their Saturday edition on Marseille’s January transfer business and the ones that got away. Marseille’s weakness upfront has been brought into focus with Bafetimbi Gomis injured after the window closed, and in hindsight the failure to add upfront is looking worse.
One of the main options mentioned for Marseille is Manolo Gabbiadini, who eventually joined Southampton. Marseille made a last minute attempt to sign Gabbiadini, and take him from the clutches of Claude Puel, but the efforts didn’t really get off the ground.
That’s because, according to L’Equipe, Gabbiadini himself chose Southampton and wasn’t willing to listen to the French overtures. Napoli were also more convinced by Southampton’s proposal than that of Marseille, so Gabbiadini ended up in the Premier League.
There’s a lingering doubt that perhaps Marseille could have done more, but Gabbiadini has long been linked with a will to play in England and that worked in Southampton’s favour.
