Vitinha has struggled to find any sort of form since switching from Portugal to the South of France. The former Braga attacker was pinned up as the man to lead OM’s attack for the future but things have not quite worked out as he had planned and Vitinha has now been surpassed by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the Stade Vélodrome. The former Portuguese U21 international has scored 6 goals in 41 appearances for Marseille. 

Not entertaining loan offers

OM are unwilling to entertain loan offers for Vitinha and are looking to recoup some of the €32m they spent on the Portuguese striker. Marseille are hoping for bids in the region of €20m for the former Braga man. The recent arrival of Faris Moumbanga at the Stade Vélodrome has also further cast doubts over Vitinha’s Marseille future. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Renan Lodi (25) completed his move to Al-Hilal earlier this week, and despite already signing Ulisses Garcia from Young Boys, OM are looking to bring in another left-back this window. Truffert remains a target for Gennaro Gattuso’s side, however, with Rennes reluctant to part ways with the France international, alternatives are being sounded out. 

Merlin is perhaps a more realistic option. Unlike their Breton rivals, Nantes are open to selling Merlin this month. The France U21 international is available for over €12m. Foot Mercato add that two other left-backs, none of whom currently play in France, are also being targeted. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Whilst the game did ultimately not go ahead, Lyon fans did make it into the stadium, and some were shown making Nazi salutes towards the OM fans. Two fans have now appeared in court, charged with provoking public hate or violence and bringing an object into a sporting arena that incites hatred or discrimination. 

Judgement to be rendered on 12th March

The two fans, aged 33 and 34 and belonging to the Mezza Lyon ultra group, who have previously been convicted of violence, were reportedly invasive in court. Whilst one of those charged admitted to making a Nazi salute, they deny any ideology behind it, whilst the other denies the charges entirely. 

After the hearing, Marseille’s public prosecutor called for a three-month prison sentence and a three-year prison ban for the pair. The judgement will be rendered on 12th March. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Lodi only joined Marseille in the summer for €13m and despite the managerial change with Gennaro Gattuso replacing Marcelino, the Brazilian remained the indisputable first-choice at OM. However, Al-Hilal made an irrefutable offer. As per a report from L’Équipe, Les Phocéens will receive €23m for the Brazilian international, however, €8m of that will go to Atletico Madrid. 

Whilst OM have already completed the signing of one left-back in the form of Ulisses Garcia, another recruit is expected in the position. Marseille remain in discussions to sign Stade Rennais’ Adrien Truffert, as per reports from L’Équipe. With Les Phocéens’ wage bill being closely scrutinised by the DNCG – French football’s financial watchdog, there could be further departures this month. One of those could be club-record signing Vitinha, whose place in the squad is threatened by the arrival of Faris Moumbagna.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Vitinha is Marseille’s club-record signing having arrived last January in a €32m move from Braga. However, despite a recent uptick in his performances, the Portuguese forward has largely struggled since making the move to Ligue 1. The arrival of Moumgagna now further threatens Vitinha’s position at the club. 

The Bodø/Glimt striker is expected to imminently complete his move to OM. Moumbagna will undergo his medical in the Côte d’Ivoire, where he is currently competing in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), before signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with Les Phocéens. 

Marseille will therefore not stand in the way of a departure for Vitinha. La Provence reported earlier in January that OM were open to offers and would accept bids of over €20m. The club have received interest for the Portuguese forward; it is now up to his suitors to match Marseille’s valuation.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Les Phocéens are set to seal their third transfer of the transfer window, after completing the loan of Jean Onana (24) from Besiktas JK, and earlier today singing Swiss left-back Ulisses Garcia (28) from Young Boys BSC. OM are looking to reinforce their squad after a difficult start to the Ligue 1 campaign, which saw them finish seventh in the first half of the season.

Moumbagna will add to an already impressive list of strikers at the club, which includes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (34), Vitinha (23), Iliman Ndiaye (23) and Joaquín Correa (29), though apart from Aubameyang, none of them has had satisfactory on-the-pitch outputs since joining.

During the last Eliteserien edition, the 23-year-old had scored 15 goals and given out eight assists, ending the season as the joint-third top goal contributor in the league, ahead of Montpellier star Akor Adams (23).

GFFN | Alfred Lalande

The deal to bring Garcia was sounded out after the club failed to get a deal for Josh Doig over the line. Doig had looked set to join Marseille and perhaps would have done so if not for a last-minute offer from Sassuolo. Whilst the Scottish defender preferred a move to the Vélodrome over a move to Sassuolo, the Italian side’s superior offer meant that Hellas Verona pushed Doig to make the move to their Serie A rivals. The deal taking Doig to Sassuolo is not yet completed, but with OM having abandoned the transfer, they are now primed to do so. 

Garcia completed his medical with Marseille on Tuesday and has now signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Les Phocéens. He becomes Marseille’s second signing of the January transfer window, following the arrival of Jean Onana from Besiktas. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Despite investing heavily in Ismaïla Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye in the summer, the option of recruiting another attacker this month is being considered by Marseille. According to L’Équipe, this has been a topic of discussion between OM executives and Gennaro Gattuso in recent days. 

Wolves and Brentford interested in Benrahma

Marseille have now submitted an opening offer for Benrahma, however, this offer, which was for a loan with an option to make the move permanent, has been rejected by West Ham. OM are expected to come back with an improved offer for the winger, who has been valued at €23m. 

Amidst interest from Olympique Lyonnais, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Marseille are keen to steal a march on the competition and sign the player, who will be allowed to leave West Ham this month, if the club’s valuation is met. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Marseille brought in Ismaïla Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye in the summer, however, neither are yet to fully convince, and both have even been linked with departures from the club. In the meantime, Gennaro Gattuso has held talks with OM executives and has spoken about the possibility of recruiting another playmaker this month. 

According to L’Équipe, intermediaries are studying the feasibility of a move to Borussia Dortmund’s Reyna, although it is currently unclear whether Les Phocéens will make a move for the USMNT international.

Reyna, who came through Dortmund’s academy system, has played a peripheral role at the Bundesliga club so far this season, starting just two matches in all competitions. In 12 appearances, Reyna is yet to register a goal or an assist. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Doig had looked set to join Marseille and perhaps would have done so if not for a last-minute offer from Sassuolo. Whilst the Scottish defender preferred a move to the Vélodrome over a move to Sassuolo, the Italian side’s superior offer meant that Hellas Verona pushed Doig to make the move to their Serie A rivals. The deal taking Doig to Sassuolo is not yet completed, but with OM seemingly abandoning a move, they are now primed to do so. 

Concurrently, Marseille had been discussing a move to sign Swiss international Garcia. A deal for his transfer has now been reached with the player green-lighting a move to the Vélodrome. Garcia could arrive in Marseille in the coming hours, but his arrival will not prevent OM from recruiting further at left-back, especially if Renan Lodi completes his €25m move to Al-Hilal, as expected. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle