Les Monégasques and the forward were set on an early departure with six months left on his contract. The player has not featured for a single minute for the club this season, having been frozen out of the squad. 

Martins has not trained with the first-team squad due to an agreement made between Monaco and his agent. There were some thoughts that he would look to return to his native Portugal or that the Saudi Arabian clubs would be interested in securing his talent. 

However, according to L’Équipe, Martins will likely join Olympiacos FC later today after travelling to Piraeus last night where he will join the Greek club on a free transfer. Still, Monaco will maintain a small percentage on any future transfer fees if Olympiacos look to sell him. 

Perhaps there will be some disappointment that Monaco will not come anywhere close to recouping the €30 million spent on securing the player in 2018 from Atlético de Madrid, but this transfer is part of a wider move from Les Monégasques to trim their squad. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Henrique’s strengths have always been just as clear as his weaknesses. The Brazilian came through at Atletico Madrid as a No.10, and it often shows. Now functioning at left-wing-back, his upside in the final third is considerable, whilst his dead-ball delivery ranks amongst not only the best in Ligue 1, but in Europe. 

Last season, he registered nine assists, the joint-fifth highest total in Ligue 1. In his first six games of this season, he registered four assists. Despite not featuring since mid-September, only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Florian Sotoca and Ousmane Dembélé have more assists than the Brazil international. 

However, his defensive weaknesses have often been exploited by the opposition, with lapses in concentration and poor positioning all too often leading to goals. Under new manager Adi Hütter, those weaknesses have been masked. 

Henrique in race to feature again before end of season

He had been registering more complete performances, and that has facilitated his breakthrough on the international scene. Henrique had often been questionably overlooked, leading him to consider his international allegiance. The former Atletico Madrid player also possessed a Spanish passport, and he had publicly touted the possibility of representing La Roja. 

However, he finally made his debut in September, making a substitute appearance in a 5-1 win against Bolivia. If that was the high point of his career, two weeks later he experienced one of, if not the biggest, lows. 

Having suffered an ACL injury against OGC Nice, he required surgery. Hütter has said that he will therefore be absent for “six, seven or eight months”, meaning that he may not feature again before the end of the season. 

It is a cruel blow for a player that finally looked to have ironed out some of the weaknesses in his game, or at the very least, that he was now being deployed in a system that masked them. Beyond the personal disappointment, his absence is also a blow to Monaco, whose potential to challenge PSG for the Ligue 1 title has been negatively affected by the injury. However, should Henrique rediscover his pre-ACL form, he will remain a huge asset for Monaco and Brazil going forward. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Despite their third-place standing in Ligue 1, Monaco have been unconvincing defensively, and the Principality club are therefore understandably looking to strengthen in the summer. Whilst discussions over the signing of Stade Brestois’ Lilian Brassier (24) continue, one deal is now reaching a positive conclusion. 

Romano reports that Monaco are set to beat significant competition to sign the German international centre-back. OGC Nice, Stade Rennais and Bayern Munich were all interested in signing Kehrer. As previously reported by Foot Mercato, Les Monégasques are keen on a loan move for Kehrer, who has become an increasingly peripheral figure at West Ham this season.

Brassier also close to Monaco move

It is unclear whether an option to make the deal permanent will be included in the loan. Kehrer’s return to Ligue 1 now looks imminent. The German left Paris Saint-Germain to join West Ham in August 2022. 

Brassier is also nearing his move to the Stade Louis II. Monaco’s first offer of €8m was rejected, however, they hope to agree personal terms with the player in the coming hours before submitting a second offer, which is thought to be more in line with Brest’s €12m valuation. Les Pirates are hoping to keep Brassier on loan until the end of the season, according to L’Équipe. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Brassier is one of the most coveted assets in Ligue 1 this January. As reported by Foot Mercato, AS Monaco and Porto are both interested in the Frenchman, who has been a pillar of Brest’s start-of-season success. Brassier is under contract with Brest until the summer of 2025, however, it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will see that contract out. 

Monaco determined in Brassier pursuit

AC Milan are in the market for defensive reinforcements this January, and it seems their shortlist is not dissimilar to that created by Monaco. Like the Principality club, AC Milan are also interested in Brassier, as well as West Ham United’s Thilo Kehrer. 

However, according to Foot Mercato, Monaco remain in pole position to sign Brassier, with Ouest-France adding that the Principality club are determined to complete the signing. Brest are asking for around €10m for Brassier. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Brassier is under contract with Brest until the summer of 2025, however, it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will see that contract out. 

Monaco, who despite their third-place standing in Ligue 1, have been poor defensively, are looking to reinforce their back-line this winter. A move for Brassier is being explored by the Principality club, however, they are simultaneously exploring alternatives. 

Porto have now enquired about Brassier and are considering making an offer to Brest. The Ligue 1 side are reticent to part ways with Brassier, who has been a big part of their success in the opening half of the season, however, it will be difficult for them to resist offers upwards of €10m. Given that a bidding war may ensue, it looks increasingly likely that that figure will be reached. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

As revealed by Foot Mercato earlier on Friday, Kehrer is attracting interest from many clubs across Europe this January. As well Monaco, OGC Nice, Stade Rennais, and even Bayern Munich are all interested in the former Paris Saint-Germain centre-back. 

Having featured relatively prominently last season, Kehrer has found game time harder to come by this campaign. The German international, who departed PSG in 2022, has largely been used as a substitute, starting on just four occasions all season. West Ham are therefore not opposed to losing Kehrer this January.

Kehrer unkeen on Atalanta move

L’Équipe have confirmed Monaco’s interest in Kehrer, adding that they are stepping up their attempts to sign the German. Simultaneously, the Principality club are also looking to conclude a deal for Stade Brestois’ Lilian Brassier. 

However, Monaco still face competition to complete the deal for Kehrer. According to L’Équipe, Nice and Rennes have already submitted a contract offer to Kehrer. However, one team from which Les Monégasques won’t face competition is Atalanta. The Serie A side had shown interest, but Kehrer was not keen on the move. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Martins has been out of the picture at Monaco for many months. He was removed from first-team training under Philippe Clement, and upon Adi Hütter’s arrival, it was immediately clear that the Portuguese winger didn’t have a future at the Principality club. The Austrian manager revealed that there was an agreement between the club and the player that a departure would be facilitated. However, suitors were not forthcoming in the summer transfer window. 

With just six months remaining on Martins’ contract, Monaco are keen to offload the player in January. He has not played one minute so far this season and so Les Monégasques will not be asking for a considerable fee. Nottingham Forest are looking to conclude a deal for the Portuguese winger, who joined Monaco for €30m from Atletico Madrid in 2019, in the coming days. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Whilst Maripán has been a fixture in Monaco’s back-line under Adi Hütter this season, the Chilean doesn’t necessarily represent the future of the Principality club. Les Monégasques are in the process of reconstructing their defence. Wilfried Singo arrived in the summer, Soungoutou Magassa has broken through, and Lilian Brassier could arrive from Stade Brestois in January.

As a result, Monaco are not opposed to selling Maripán this January. Rennes have now made official contact regarding a deal. The Principality club have set a €10m valuation on the defender, who arrived at the club back in 2019. However, according to Foot Mercato, the player himself is not set on a departure. The Chilean is happy at the Stade Louis II and does not necessarily wish to make a move away in the coming weeks. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

2023 has been the year in which Fofana has consolidated his rise in the game. He had been a peripheral figure prior to the World Cup, however, he played 224 minutes of football in Qatar. In 2023, he consolidated his place in Didier Deschamps’ setup, starting in both EURO 2024 qualifiers in the most recent international break and scoring in both matches, against Gibraltar and Greece. 

In an interview with Get French Football News, Fofana described his 2022/23 season as “his most complete”, however, like many of his teammates, he did not replicate his pre-World Cup form in the early part of 2023. As a result, Monaco slipped out of contention for Champions League football, before missing out on European qualification. There is plenty of blame to be shared around the dressing room, but as an experienced and integral part of Les Monégasques, some of that blame does fall on the shoulders of Fofana. 

Fofana’s influence transcends statistics

However, he has reacted well at the start of this season. There were doubts whether he would even remain at the Principality club amidst interest from Premier League sides, but Fofana’s decision is paying off for all parties. In the absence of the increasingly peripheral Wissam Ben Yedder, Fofana has worn the armband on occasions this season, a sign of his status within the squad, and his importance. 

He seemingly likes the responsibility as he has performed well when wearing the armband. He has quickly struck up a good understanding with Denis Zakaria, and the defensive stability that the latter affords has had a liberating effect on Fofana, who has added statistics to his game this season. He already has one goal and three assists this season. He registered just two assists and two goals in the entirety of last season. 

Fofana doesn’t attribute much importance to statistics. “They’re for people who don’t watch the game,” he said in December. In many ways he is right. His influence for Monaco is much more far-reaching. There is an unshakeable feeling that any season could be Fofana’s last at Monaco, but if that is to be the case this year, he is doing a good job at increasing his value and – potentially – leading the club back into Europe.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

There was a strong argument to be made that Monaco should cut their losses and move on in the summer, however, internally at the club, there was a belief that he would bounce back in his second season. That optimism, at the time, seemed relatively baseless, however, in time it has proved to be well-founded. 

Minamino’s revival has been spectacular. With five goals, he has already easily beaten his goal tally from last season, and with four assists, he has already equalled last year’s total. His body language and general attitude on the pitch has been transformed. There was a meekness to his game; when things weren’t going his way, as they so often weren’t there was no revolt. 

Hütter’s arrival aided Minamino’s integration

This season, he cuts a more determined figure. If he doesn’t receive the service that he wants from his teammates, he will now make it known. The improvement in this facet of his game, which is a major factor behind Minamino’s improvement, can be attributed to an integration that, whilst took time, now looks complete. 

The Japanese international spoke at length about how the language barrier and the new culture were initially a shock. It took him a while to get over that, but with a full year in Monaco under his belt, he now looks at home. The arrival of Adi Hütter, a manager with whom Minamino worked whilst a youth player at Red Bull Salzburg, is a contributor to that integration.

Minamino’s efforts were awarded with the Player of the Month award for August, and whilst he is not as prolific as he was in those opening gameweeks, he is, alongside Aleksandr Golovin, the fulcrum of creativity for Monaco – a far cry from the liability that he represented for so many months. Minamino has now re-asserted his place in the Japan national team and his career has been reignited. Monaco’s patience and optimism have paid off.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle