Marseille: the deals set to spark the end of the transfer window 💥

Marseille: the deals set to spark the end of the transfer window 💥 The main question is: who will stay? After a chaotic season, OM are currently going through a very quiet summer in terms of arrivals, with quite simply no new signings so far. And for good reason: the focus is on departures because of a strict austerity drive imposed by UEFA and owner Franck McCourt. OM have already recorded the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mason Greenwood and Hamed Traoré in order to reduce their wage bill and refill the coffers. These first sales are expected to be the start of a long list before the end of a transfer window in which OM could have major difficulties strengthening the squad. A complete goalkeeper overhaul? After an exhausting season, Geronimo Rulli would have the almost unexpected opportunity to join Manchester City, according to Fabrizio Romano. His agent even let the cat out of the bag by posting a photo at the English club’s training ground. Second-choice goalkeeper Jeffrey De Lange is also not expected to stick around for long, according to L'Équipe. The Dutchman reportedly wants to return to the Eredivisie, with Twente among the clubs interested. OM will therefore need to recruit in the goalkeeper position in the coming weeks. The names of Guillaume Restes and Marcin Bulka have been mentioned in the press, but they would be too expensive for OM at this stage. 📸 THIBAUD MORITZ - AFP or licensors Major uncertainty in central defense 😬 The situation regarding OM’s central defense is a sensitive one, given that it represents a large part of the club’s market value. Facundo Medina, Nayef Aguerd and Leonardo Balerdi could allow OM to bring in a nice sum of money, but they still need to find buyers. According to Foot Mercato, Stade Rennais would like to bring the Moroccan defender back, while Facundo Medina is hoping to join Bayer Leverkusen, with the German club having made him one of its priorities. Finally, Leonardo Balerdi is reportedly still keen on a move away after several difficult seasons at OM, and is said to be looking in particular toward Serie A. 📸 STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN - AFP or licensors Priority issues in midfield For several weeks now, rumors linking Pierre-Émile Hojbjerg with AC Milan have been persistent, but that move has been slow to materialize. Milan have already spent heavily on Gonçalo Ramos and are no doubt waiting for a sale before moving forward. Geoffrey Kondogbia’s future is also raising questions. The 33-year-old midfielder is on a big salary and is often injured, but with one year left on his contract, room for maneuver is limited and few suitors seem to be lining up. And what about Quinten Timber? Having arrived last winter for almost nothing, the Dutch midfielder could represent a nice capital gain for OM, but here too few interested clubs have made themselves known. 📸 GABRIEL BOUYS - AFP or licensors Gouiri and Paixao spared? While OM’s attack has been significantly stripped down by the departures of Aubameyang, Greenwood and Traoré. Does that guarantee a place for Amine Gouiri and Igor Paixao? Nothing could be less certain; it is hard to imagine the Marseille board turning down a good offer if one were to come in. Any further departures would still need to be replaced if they were to happen. But with a salary cap set at €100,000 gross per month according to L'Équipe, the club will have to be clever. 📸 VALENTINE CHAPUIS - AFP or licensors Right-back, Bruno Genesio’s stated priority For now, OM only have Timothy Weah to cover the right flank, and Bruno Genesio is hoping to see another right-sided defender arrive in Marseille to give him a bit more depth. In that regard, Foot Mercato reports that OM are working on Saël Kumbedi. But competition is fierce, and the Olympian club’s limited finances once again restrict their room for maneuver. 📸 CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU - AFP or licensors This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.