Speaking to our colleagues at RMC, the right-hand man of prospective Lille buyer and former Formula 1 team Lotus boss Gérard Lopez, Marc Ingla (future General Manager of Lille), move to quell concerns that the Luxembourg businessman had got cold feet about purchasing the Ligue 1 club. “We met Michel (Seydoux) at the end of September. We ate at Luchin, there was chemistry and we could see from the first minute that we would be doing a deal… We are missing certain little points but we are quite close. This is the end… Mid-January is a reasonable date… We are going to try to close this at a reasonable date so…

Marseille President Eyraud has decided to attempt to bring French international attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet back to the club this month in what would be a simply crazy deal, according to L’Équipe. OM have decided to pursue a transfer policy that generally speaking, at least for January, centres around French speaking players or those who have prior experience of the peculiar atmosphere involved with being a Marseille player. Dimitri Payet, who will be 30 shortly, ticks both of those boxes and recently stated that he was open to returning to Marseille in an interview with SFR Sport. “I am not closing the door to anything. Marseille have a new project which seems…

French international goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has decided to remain at Premier League outfit Crystal Palace at least until the end of the season, according to our colleagues at L’Équipe. Mandanda met with Marseille Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta last month about a possible return, and was open to the move for family reasons. Click Here: Atlanta Falcons Jersey However, Mandanda has decided to remain with Palace and fight to win back his number one goalkeeping spot from Wayne Hennessey.

Speaking in an interview with German outlet Kicker, Arsenal attacking midfielder Mesut Özil moved to respond to criticism from pundits such as Gunners legend and former French international Thierry Henry who has claimed in recent days that the German is “holding the club hostage” with regards to his contract situation. “Everyone has a right to say what they want but what they have to say doesn’t interest me. Ex-players or other people who have a view don’t know what is actually being said between me and the club.” (H/T The Guardian) Click Here: state of origin rugby jersey

French international central midfielder Blaise Matuidi’s contract extension negotiations with PSG are at boiling point, according to our colleagues at L’Équipe. Director of Football Patrick Kluivert’s priority at the moment appears to be to sign a striker as back up for Edinson Cavani, with the Dutchman having been the one in the first place to open the door to Matuidi for a departure last summer. It was PSG President Al Khelaifi who insisted that Matuidi rejected an offer from Juventus and stayed, it was Al Khelaifi who announced that the French international should have a new contract, but nothing has been done about it. The two parties have discussed the contours…

Ligue 1 side Montpellier HSC have submitted a bid for Czech defender Lukas Pokorny, according to L’Équipe. Click Here: Borussia Dortmund soccer tracksuit The 23 year old Slovan Liberec centre back has been identified by Montpellier scouts as a replacement for Nicolas Saint-Ruf who is expected to join SC Bastia today on a 3.5 year deal.

35-year-old French international Patrice Evra will join Marseille in the coming hours, subject to a medical. A 1.5 year deal has been agreed for left-back Evra to return to France and OM, the club he started his professional career at 21 years ago. French reporting indicates that Evra will undergo a medical in the coming hours this evening and will then be officially announced as OM’s second signing of the window tomorrow. Click Here: vans shop

Belgian giants Anderlecht and Dutch side PSV are considering making a move for Marseille defender Karim Rekik, according to RMC. Rekik is seeking to depart the club in search of increased playing time, but his family are a little conflicted and might wish to remain in Marseille until the end of the current campaign. It will be touch and go in the final hours of this window. Click Here: cronulla sharks team jersey

Bordeaux have announced the completion of the signing of midfielder Younousse Sankharé from fellow Ligue 1 side Lille. The 27-year-old joins Girondins on a four-year-deal for an undisclosed fee after only signing for LOSC at the start of the current season. Sankhare has made 21 Ligue 1 appearances this season for Lille but found the project of working under Jocelyn Gourvennec at Bordeaux too enticing to turn down. Previously of Paris Saint-Germain, the Senegalese international will be hoping to transfer some of his performance for Lille this season to Bordeaux as they hunt for Europa League football. N.S. Click Here: qld maroons jersey