It’s time to take stock of the 2024 winter transfer window for Olympique de Marseille. OM management recorded four arrivals and three departures. Analysis of this Marseille transfer.
Olympique de Marseille needed this 2024 winter transfer window to redress the mistakes of last summer. The departure of Marcelino and the appointment of Gennaro Gattuso forces Pablo Longoria to do a number of things. We were able to note three departures and these are still few compared to what we might expect. Jonathan Kloss, Ismaila Sir and Iliman Ndiaye came very close to the door.
In terms of arrivals, OM signed four new players during this January market: two left-backs, an attacker and a midfielder. Sarvaiya.
Renan Lodi was one of the rare transfers that was not planned by the Marseille management. The Brazilian international received an impossible-to-refuse salary offer with a salary multiplied by three. So, the player gave his contract and then Al-Hilal and OM agreed on a deal worth more than 22 million euros.
Even if it’s a departure six months after his arrival, it’s still a good sale for Marseille. Lodi had not yet left a lasting memory in his left corridor.
This is one of the biggest disappointments of the Longoria era. Vitinha confirmed without signing in January 2023 for 32 million euros including bonuses. He scored only eight minor goals in over 40 games played. His last outing was the apotheosis with a terrible miss from two meters into the deserted cage by the AS Monaco goalkeeper (2-2).
Therefore, OM managed to hand over his ball to Genoa in the form of a loan with a purchase option of 25 million euros. An agreement that made it possible to unblock the sale of Ruslan Malinovsky to the Italian team for 7 million euros. Even if he returns in six months, the deal could help restore his confidence. It’s a shame it couldn’t be sold sooner and more definitively.
How difficult it was for François-Regis Mugay. The Cameroonian international ruled out his participation at CAN 2024 in hopes of getting playing time with OM. However, his refusal prevented him from playing a single minute with Marseille. His clearance has expired but Gennaro Gattuso has been able to trust Luis Henrique in the meantime and is counting on him less.
So, Mugge agreed to join Dunkirk on loan without an option to buy to get back on track. Too bad it has come to…
Pape Gueye will definitely stay with OM until the end of the season. So there was a profile missing in the middle and Marseille bet on Jean Onana. The former RC Lens midfielder no longer played for Besiktas and agreed to take a pay cut to join the Marseille team.
Financially, this loan with an option to buy is a great performance but sportingly, Onana’s debut leaves something to be desired. Let’s just say it’s a transitional solution until the summer market…
Faris Moumbagna joins OM to make up for Vitinha’s departure. This transfer is eligible”Expectation” To have a profile capable of being influenced by Pablo Longoria. He will be able to attack deep and link up with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The only problem with the story is Maumbagna’s level as he has played in Norway so far. Will he be able to adapt to Ligue 1? We will soon know for this recruit bought for 8 million euros.
Ulysses Garcia comes to OM as an understudy. The Swiss full-back had a mixed start, conceding a penalty in the first leg against Stade Rennais in the Coupe de France. Marseille paid just 3 million euros for the experienced profile.
To see how his playing time and contribution to the team will be. It is difficult to assess Garcia’s level so far.
Quentin Merlin is OM’s main transfer during this winter transfer window. The FC Nantes full-back is young, promising and knows Ligue 1 well. Marseille have invested a little over 12 million euros for his services and are recapturing a great French prospect.
Merlin did everything to compete with the Phocaeans in this second half of the season. This deal looks like a good deal.
For us, OM had a slow transfer window. The gaps were filled as best they could with some reinforcements unknown to the general public. Only the sale of Lodi and the purchase of Merlin appear well thought out. The rest is difficult to analyze and sometimes even difficult to understand. The next few weeks will tell us more.
Marseille transfer window rating: 5/10
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