Sunderland’s pursuit of Jonathan Rowe could be easier than first thought, despite Olympique de Marseille’s public stance.
French outlet Foot Mercato reported that OM have placed a €20m price tag on the winger, who only arrived from Norwich City last summer. They claim Marseille want to recover their investment after paying around €16m for him.
But RMC Sport offer a different version, suggesting the Ligue 1 club are simply aiming to get back part of their outlay. They point out that Rowe joined on an initial loan with an obligation to buy worth close to €17m, and Marseille will look for a fee that reflects this.
Their sources make it clear Sunderland – alongside Bologna – are contenders for the signing, and that OM will not realistically hold out for €20m in the current circumstances.
Those circumstances are far from calm. Rowe and Adrien Rabiot were both involved in a heated post-match altercation after defeat to Rennes, leading the club to push them onto the transfer list.
What started as a turbulent opening weekend quickly became a crisis in Marseille, and both players are now being moved on.
With Sunderland’s interest already noted, the English side can likely negotiate a deal below the €20m figure mentioned by some in France. Whether they choose to move decisively in the wake of Marseille’s turmoil remains to be seen.
