It’s no secret that Olympique de Marseille are heading for a major facelift this summer.
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With several key players coming to the end of their contracts and the club looking to sell other stars in order to raise funds, there will likely be a major exodus from the Stade Velodrome this summer.
Marcelo Bielsa isn’t looking to trim away the squad’s fringe players either, with almost all of the club’s starting XI linked with a move away from Provence over the coming months.
In this feature we run down the players likely to leave the French giants this summer, a list including numerous names who may well move to the Premier League during the transfer window.
Andre-Pierre Gignac
France international Andre-Pierre Gignac is set to leave Marseille this summer after five years of service.
While he remains a fine finisher—having bagged 20 goals in 36 outings so far this term—Gignac lost his place in the team earlier this year, and will leave on a free at the end of June.
West Ham United have emerged as favourites for his signature and the transfer would represent a major coup for Sam Allardyce’s side.
Steve Mandanda
The 30-year-old goalkeeper has endured a mixed campaign, and was found wanting during the club’s sticky four-game losing streak last month.
Despite this, he remains an outstanding stopper and is another France international who could show up in England next season.
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with the player and may make a move should Hugo Lloris leave for Manchester United.
Giannelli Imbula
The dynamic Giannelli Imbula recently came second in a list of the best U23 midfielders in world football.
Indeed, the 22-year-old is an outstanding competition; he is one of the most effective dribblers in Ligue 1, but also excels at breaking up the play and launching attacks for OM.
Chelsea have been linked with the midfielder, although Imbula, who is eligible to represent France or the Democratic Republic of Congo, ought to think carefully about joining a club where Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic would surely block his path to the first team.
Florian Thauvin
The ‘new Zidane’ hasn’t quite convinced at Marseille, despite being given the faith of Bielsa for large swathes of the campaign.
That trust evaporated somewhat recently as the right-sider was dropped by the coach during OM’s sticky run.
Indeed, while talented, Thauvin can be a frustrating player who often ignores his teammates and is regularly guilty of some dubious decision-making.
This hasn’t stopped the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle United keeping tabs on the France U21 international.
Ben Mendy
Versatile left-sider Benjamin Mendy has progressed immensely under the tutelage of Bielsa.
The defensive side of his game as improved hugely, while the legendary Argentine manager hasn’t curbed the player’s superb offensive instincts.
After a mixed season for Luke Shaw, Manchester United have been linked to the 20-year-old, although they player has insisted that he is keen to stick around at the Stade Velodrome.
Andre Ayew
Andre Ayew could be considered the jewel in OM’s crown, but the club admitted earlier this week that they have given up hope of keeping the Ghana international at the club.
The 25-year-old’s contract ends at the beginning of July, when he will become one of the most sought-after players on the free market.
He has expressed a desire to move to the Premier League, naming Liverpool as his favourite team, but the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, both Milan clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and many, many others have been linked with the Black Star’s signature.
Rod Fanni
Veteran Rod Fanni has been a great servant to Marseille, but he has been deemed surplus to requirements and a new contract has not been forthcoming.
The France international is 33, and has shown some signs of wear and tear recently. However, it is worth noting that he has featured 25 times for Marseille this season and has been a consistent, resolute performer for the Phoceens.
Fanni has also demonstrated a positional versatility under Bielsa, and has been linked with Liverpool, who are likely to bid adieu to Kolo Toure this summer.
Nicolas N’Koulou
Another player reportedly on the radar of Brendan Rodgers is Cameroon centre-back Nicolas N’Koulou.
The 25-year-old is another valuable asset for OM, but with only one year left on his current deal, the club may look to cash in rather than risk another superstar walking away for free.
There would be no shortage of suitors for N’Koulou, even though the former Monaco man has had his campaign ravaged by injury, and the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Newcastle United are believed to be interested in the cultured defender.
Lucas Ocampos
While Bielsa remains optimistic of signing Lucas Ocampos on a permanent deal, there are no guarantees that the Argentine forward will remain at the Stade Velodome beyond the summer.
He is currently on loan from AS Monaco, and the Club of the Principality may well be entertaining other offers for the 20-year-old.
Ocampos has featured 11 times since moving in January, scoring once and contributing one assist, and Manchester United, who were interested in the player earlier this year, may take another look.
Jeremy Morel
The 31-year-old is another who is out of contract this summer and with no sign of a new deal being forthcoming, it looks like the former Lorient man will join the OM exodus.
Morel has enjoyed a new lease of life at Marseille this season, where he excelled out of position in the heart of defence during the extended enforced absence of N’Koulou.
While he could certainly do a job in the Premier League, a move to another Ligue 1 club looks more likely.