Ask Tottenham’s Daniel Levy which club was his favourite of the last transfer window, and there’s a good chance he’ll say Marseille.
The French club were wrapped in a deal to sign Clinton N’Jie on a loan which automatically turned permanent, despite the now former Tottenham player certainly doing little to justify a stay.
There’s every chance Marseille will offload N’Jie before the end of the window, and every chance that will be at a loss.
Then there’s Georges-Kévin N’Koudou. If a transfer is judged on how a player does on the pitch, then N’Koudou has been a big Spurs failure. However, if a transfer is judged on how much the selling club are dragged through the mill, taken to the edge of a nervous breakdown, and ultimately forced to capitulate, then N’Koudou to Tottenham was a huge success.
Marseille may have had a change in ownership and management but the thought of dealing with Tottenham and Levy again probably won’t be a welcome one, whereas the Spurs financial strongman may break out in a grin at the idea of playing with Marseille again.
Vincent Janssen could provide the opportunity. L’Equipe’s Sunday edition throws the Dutch striker into the list of possible Marseille recruitments upfront. The French club are under huge pressure to recruit a forward, having bragged about it to the media earlier this summer.
The chance to drag Marseille back through the mill before crushing their hopes at the last minute and telling them Janssen is staying, or wrapping the club in a loan which commits them to spend a ridiculous amount on the Dutchman? Either would likely be welcome.