Marlon’s situation this summer has been strange to say the least.
The Barcelona player was midway through a two year loan to Nice. Around a month ago the Ligue 1 side made it public that Marlon had returned to Barca early, because the club were very close to selling him on a permanent transfer.
Back then it was West ham repeatedly linked and a transfer was at several stages said to be close, despite disagreements between the clubs on money. Repeatedly it was claimed that another Premier League side also held interest, although they weren’t named.
Then on June 29th, Catalan newspaper Sport reported Marlon was ‘one step’ away from becoming a Southampton player for a €12m fee. Even the details of the deal were reported by Sport, with there being no buyback option on the Brazilian defender.
At this point it felt like an announcement would come next.
Then Mundo Deportivo, another Catalan newspaper, reported Southampton had ‘joined the bidding’ for the player, along with West Ham.
Monday’s edition of Sport states that a move to English football, and specifically West Ham, had been ‘taken for granted’ for €15m, but now everything is up in the air again. Southampton don’t get a mention.
