Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas has identified Watford’s Pape Gueye as a signing this summer, with the player locked in a legal dispute over his contract with the Hornets.
L’Equipe report today that the Marseille boss is determined to add to his squad this summer but, with financial difficulties enveloping the club, has had to target the loan and free market.
Gueye is one player he has on his list, with the Le Havre midfielder set to be available on a free come the summer.
He had been expected to join Watford at that point, with the Hornets having agreed to a transfer in January and formally announced his arrival to boot.
Since January he has felt ‘financially disadvantaged’ and, after a change of representation, claimed there were ‘irregularities’ over his move to Vicarage Road.
One of these is a claim that the medical he underwent before sealing his move to Watford was ‘outside of any legal framework’ and thus not valid.
He, therefore, ‘considers himself free’ believing the Premier League side have taken ‘liberties’. Watford, for their part, believe he is their player and have already registered his contract and made his arrival official.
Thus the pair are locked in a legal battle over his future, with ‘legal experts’ studying his contract to see he can be considered a free agent.
If that is the case, he will have several suitors. Angers have already approached his entourage in the hope of bringing him back while Marseille are also keen.
Indeed, they have ‘recently tried an approach’ indicating they are ready to make a move if it is determined he is available on a free.
Watford will certainly say he isn’t, with it likely they will end up at CAS once again to try and resolve this issue. a
