The outlet understands that the former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder expressed his wish to leave the Ligue 1 club when returning from his holidays, on December 28th. Matić, a father of three, has previously lamented the fact he could not enrol his children at an international school in Rennes. The problem is that there is no international school in Rennes. This misunderstanding has reportedly angered the club’s owner – French billionaire and luxury mogul François Pinault.

Lyon and Marseille pushing to sign Matić

Ouest-France adds that Pinault, as well as the club’s executives, have no intention of letting go of Matić after only four months in Brittany. The pill would be even harder to swallow should a rival Ligue 1 club were to swoop in. It has been previously reported that Lyon were targeting the former Premier League player. Ouest-France adds that Les Gones have the financial means to lure Matić out of Brittany and that Lyon have progressed in their attempts to sign him.

Lyon are set to face competition from Marseille. Allowing Matić to leave would be another setback for the Bretons, who are only tenth in the league.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Sarr and Gueye were part of the AFCON-winning side back in 2022, however, for Ndiaye, who switched Sheffield United for boyhood club Marseille in the summer, it is an AFCON debut that awaits him in January. “Obviously, it means a lot to represent my country, Senegal. It is a dream that is coming true to play in the AFCON. I can’t wait to get started,” Ndiaye told Get French Football News in an exclusive interview.

The three OM players are the latest of a long list of players to have also represented Senegal. They follow in the footsteps of Mamadou Niang, Bouna Sarr, Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Diallo, Souleymane Diawara, Boubacar Sarr, Sylvian N’Diaye and more recently, Bamba Dieng in representing both Les Phocéens and the Lions of Terranga.

Naturally, a strong link has therefore been forged between Marseille and Senegal. “There is a lot of pride in representing Olympique de Marseille in Africa because Marseille are really big in Africa. So to represent them for me is a very proud moment,” said Ndiaye.

The creation of OM Nation Dakar, one of the biggest Marseille supporters associations, which unites thousands under the OM flag. “Olympique de Marseille is like a religion to us,” said Serigne Sall Ndiaye, the association’s president. That fervency explains the hero’s welcome that Gueye received upon his return to Senegal in December. “Allez l’OM”, go Marseille in English, chanted the crowd as the midfielder arrived ahead of January’s AFCON.

“It is a source of pride and joy to represent OM in Africa because there are lots of Olympique de Marseille supporters in Africa. We are going to bring Marseille everywhere we go. I am very proud,” Sarr told Get French Football News.

Ndiaye and Sarr happy at Marseille

Whilst Sarr and Ndiaye both expressed pride in representing Senegal at AFCON, there is also pride – and joy – in representing OM. “The emotions were high. Obviously, it is a childhood dream to play for Marseille,” said Ndiaye, who has said that he has since “put those emotions aside” in order to “focus” on his football with Les Phocéens.

“I feel good. We are a family, a team. I feel really great here,” added Sarr, who has four goals and two assists since his summer move from Watford. Sarr, Ndiaye and Gueye al head to the Ivory Coast with renewed confidence thanks to an uptick in form at OM.

Gennaro Gattuso’s side are unbeaten in their last six games in Ligue 1 and have won three out of their last four, following a difficult start to the campaign. “I am happy for the team and for everyone. We are on a good run. We’ll try and continue that for the supporters as well. We have been expecting (a turnaround) for some time as well and we will be looking to keep it up,” said Sarr in mid-December.

However, the trio’s focus now turns to AFCON, where Senegal will be looking to retain their crown. “I must admit that it [won’t be] easy, but the first time wasn’t easy either! There are lots of teams like Morocco and the Ivory Coast that will want to win it as well, Algeria, Tunisia, and Cameroon as well. Everyone wants to win this AFCON. It won’t be easy, but we’re going there to do something,” said Sarr, who is expecting stiff competition.

“Of course, we are going to come into it with the same intent and the same passion, I saw ‘we’ as I’m part of the team now, even though I wasn’t in the same AFCON-winning team, but we’ll come in with the same intent and passion as the last AFCON,” Ndiaye told Get French Football News.

He added, “Obviously, we, as a team, are a family, and when you’re a family, you help each other to perform to the best of your ability. I can’t wait to get there and get going.” Ndiaye, Sarr, Gueye, and the rest of the Lions of Terranga are hungry to retain their title.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Marseille is very much your city. How have you handled your return?

Of course, there have been a lot of emotions over the past few months. Now they have come down a bit and I am more focused. The emotions were high. Obviously, it is a childhood dream to play for Marseille. Of course, I had played for them before, but playing in the stadium, in front of all the fans, was unbelievable. But now, I have had to put those emotions aside and really focus on my football in general in Marseille. I have been really focused, kept a smile on my face. I am more ready than ever. 

What does it mean to represent Senegal at your first AFCON?

Obviously, it means a lot to represent my country, Senegal. It is a dream that is coming true to play in the AFCON. I can’t wait to get started. There is a lot of pride in representing Olympique de Marseille in Africa because Marseille are really big in Africa. So to represent them for me is a very proud moment, and I can’t wait to get started. 

And Senegal will be one of the favourites…

We are going to come into it with the same intent and the same passion, I saw ‘we‘ as I’m part of the team now, even though I wasn’t in the same AFCON-winning team, but we’ll come in with the same intent and passion as the last AFCON. We, as a team, are a family, and when you’re a family, you help each other to perform to the best of your ability. I can’t wait to get there and get going. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Is there pressure due to Senegal’s previous win, or the opposite as you know how to win it?

I wouldn’t say that there is pressure. Everyone in Senegal wants us to win the AFCON again. We are going to go into it calm, collected and focused to try to win it a second time. 

Do you expect winning AFCON to be a more difficult task this time around?

Yeah, I must confess that it isn’t easy, but the first time wasn’t easy either! There are lots of teams like Morocco and the Ivory Coast that will want to win it as well, Algeria, Tunisia, and Cameroon as well. Everyone wants to win this AFCON. It won’t be easy, but we’re going there to do something. 

OM are hugely popular in Senegal. Is there pride in representing your club at AFCON too?

It is a source of pride and joy to represent OM in Africa because there are lots of Olympique de Marseille supporters in Africa. We are going to bring Marseille everywhere we go. I am very proud. 

Do the results OM give you confidence too?

I am happy for the team and for everyone. We are on a good winning run. We’ll try and continue that for the supporters as well. We have been expecting (a turnaround) for some time as well and we will be looking to keep it up. On a personal level, I feel good. We are a family, a team. I feel really great here.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

As per a report from L’Équipe, Marseille are open to selling Ounahi in January. The midfielder joined OM from SCO Angers in January after a standout World Cup with Morocco. However, he has yet to hit his stride at the Vélodrome. Marseille are looking to recruit this winter, however, they lack considerable means to do so. If OM want to buy, they will have to sell, and in light of considerable interest from the Middle East, Ounahi represents a very bankable asset for Les Phocéens. 

According to Foot Mercato, Al-Ittihad and Al-Shabab are amongst those showing interest in the Moroccan international. Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Duhail are also interested in Ounahi. Saudi Arabian clubs displayed an interest in Ounahi in the summer, however, a move did not come off. Given the number of clubs interested in a move this January, a departure is perhaps more likely. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Benrahma has been heavily linked with a departure from West Ham this January. The Algerian international has multiple suitors in Ligue 1, including Marseille. Amidst interest from Olympique Lyonnais and OGC Nice, Benrahma has his sights set on a move to OM, according to L’Équipe. 

Soon-to-be free agent Martial unlikely to make Marseille move

However, La Provence report that an offer may not be forthcoming. The publication report that Marseille are “annoyed” by the “unfounded” rumours linking them with a move for Benrahma. A move for the winger is deemed unfeasible due to the inevitably high salary demands. 

The same goes for other players who have been linked with a move to the Vélodrome, notably Martial, whose contract at Manchester United expires at the end of the season. Links to Denis Bouanga, linked with a move to Nice, and Bilal El Khannouss have also been denied.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Luis Henrique arrived in Marseille from Três Passos in 2020 after spending the season on loan at Botafogo. Les Olympiens paid €8m for the 22-year-old. The Brazilian winger struggled to stamp his mark at the Stade Vélodrome and has been deemed surplus to requirements by OM. Botafogo are set to submit an offer to try and secure his services permanently next week. 

Red Bull interest 

The club owned by OL owner John Textor will not have a clear run at securing his services. According to Foot Mercato, Red Bull Bragantino are also interested in bringing Luis Henrique back to Brazil. However, the Red Bull club are only interested in a loan move for the Brazilian which could make Botafogo the favourites for his signature. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

After an impressive World Cup with Morocco, expectations were high when Ounahi joined Marseille last January. However, due to injury and successive managerial changes, the midfielder has yet to impose himself at the Vélodrome.

Pape Gueye, Ismaïla Sarr and Vitinha also on transfer list

However, Ounahi remains highly rated in Saudi Arabia, who made an attempt to sign the OM midfielder in the summer. Contact over a move this January has already resumed. 

Marseille would be open to selling Ounahi, as well as a raft of other players this January. Pape Gueye, who recently returned from a long-term suspension, Vitinha, Luis Enrique and Ismaïla Sarr could all be sold in January, in the event of reasonable offers arriving.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Since a draw against Montpellier HSC on 20th December, Marseille, like all other Ligue 1 sides, have been on a winter break. However, the squad’s return to first-team training was held at the Vélodrome and in front of a substantial crowd. Children could sign up for free for the event, which fits in with a wider desire for the club to make their stars more accessible, especially to young fans.

10,000 children signed up on the first day of tickets becoming available with all tickets for the 20,000-capacity event being sold out in a matter of days. “Football belongs to children because their dream is to play football and I don’t think there is anything more beautiful than admiring your idols at training,” began manager Gennaro Gattuso, reacting to the day’s event.

‘Being a Marseille supporter is handed down from father to child’ – Gattuso

“To see so many children today, with this passion and desire, takes us back to our childhood. It i a real source of pride and it gives us a lot of strength going forward.”

The Italian added, “There are places in the world where, when a child is born, the club goes straight into their heart and Marseille definitely falls into that category. Being a Marseille supporter is handed down from father to child so I’m not surprised and I am very happy to see so many children supporting us at training.”

OM return to action when they face Thionvill Lusitanos in the Coupe de France Round of 64 on Sunday 7th January. Their first Ligue 1 match will come against RC Strasbourg Alsace at the Vélodrome on Friday 12th January.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Lyon’s interest in Benrahma has been known for several days and talks have begun over a potential deal. Any deal completed for the former Brentford attacking midfielder will be difficult due to several intermediaries involved. Benrahma was said to be tempted by the prospect of joining OL, but since OM has joined the race for his signature – they have emerged as favourites.

A potential loan with a purchase option

Any deal which sees Benrahma donning an OM shirt in the second half of the Ligue 1 season is likely to be a difficult one to complete. Les Olympiens’ transfer business will be monitored by the DNCG in the January transfer window. Therefore, a permanent deal in the winter window looks likely. A loan deal with an option to buy looks a more probable option, L’Équipe reports.

GFFN | Liam Wraith