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

The outlet goes as far as saying that Liverpool is “the most credible and dangerous candidate” for PSG regarding Mbappé’s future. Le Parisien adds that Reds manager Jürgen Klopp’s nine-year-long unwavering pursuit of the Parisian-born prodigy does not leave the latter indifferent.

Passing on the baton with Mohamed Salah

With Mohamed Salah’s contract set to expire in 2025 and the Egyptian international courted by Saudi Pro League teams, Liverpool reportedly “dream” of luring Mbappé to Anfield as a statement signing that would allow them to close the gap with Manchester City.

However, Le Parisien understands that leaving Paris next summer would not make much sense for Mbappé, considering he would struggle to find elsewhere an environment as tailor-made for him like PSG. However, the outlet adds that Real Madrid’s hardball tactics to convince him to join the Spanish giants have no chance of succeeding and are even counter-productive. The outlet adds that out of Real Madrid, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, two of those clubs will be bitterly disappointed at failing the opportunity to sign Mbappé next summer.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

PSG have announced the signing of Lucas Beraldo, and it was expected that Moscardo would sign at the same time. However, that will not happen, even if the Brazilian is still set to sign for Les Parisiens, according to L’Équipe. 

Moscardo arrived in Paris, alongside Beraldo, on Friday in order to undergo his medical ahead of a €20m move to PSG, however, a foot injury was detected during the medical. Moscardo has taken to social media to confirm that he will undergo an operation on his left foot, which will see him ruled out for three months. 

However, Moscardo’s move to the Parc des Princes is not in question, despite the setback. According to Fabrizio Romano, more talks will take place this week ahead of the finalisation of the transfer. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

After a great start to the season with Nice, Todibo is attracting major interest this January. The France international has already been the subject of an approach from Tottenham, however, according to Fabrizio Romano, the move seemed to collapse after Tottenham wanted to quickly conclude a transfer, whilst Les Aiglons were wanting to wait. 

In the wake of Tottenham’s failure to quickly conclude a deal for Todibo, Chelsea, who are still unsatisfied with their defence, despite significant investment in recent windows, have opened talks with Nice, according to Foot Mercato. Manchester United, who in INEOS now share a common owner, are still interested in Todibo, as they have been for many months. A move to Old Trafford seems logical given the newly constructed link between the clubs, however, a move is unlikely to take place before the summer. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆́𝒆

Regardez jusqu'à la fin pic.twitter.com/4qs1Zd35Co

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) January 1, 2024

Heightened competition at the back

The Ligue 1 champions were in the market for a young left-footed centre-back given Presnel Kimpembe’s injury woes. The France international is expected to sit out the remainder of the season. Kimpembe sustained a serious Achilles injury last year. Leeds United’s Pascal Struijk was also considered. Beraldo’s arrival also means heightened competition for a berth at the back of Luis Enrique’s set-up considering Milan Skriniar has not entirely convinced so far on the back of his free transfer from Inter.

“I’m really happy to be joining a club as ambitious as Paris Saint-Germain”, Beraldo added. “This is an important step in my career and one that will help me to move forward. I can’t wait to get to know my new teammates and to take my first steps in this shirt.”

Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain will play French cup winners Toulouse on Wednesday for the Trophée des Champions at the Parc des Princes.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

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

In June, Mbappé informed the PSG hierarchy that he would not be triggering the one-year extension, included in his contract, signed back in May 2022. Fearing losing the most valuable player in the world on a free, Les Parisiens’ response was to omit Mbappé from their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea amidst a wider objective, which was to garner a fee for the France captain. 

PSG optimistic about renewal

However, Mbappé dug in his heels. He publically repeated the claim that whilst he was unwilling to renew, he would be seeing out the final year of his contract at the Parc des Princes. That stance was tested when PSG reportedly accepted a world-record €300m bid from Al-Hilal, but Mbappé stood firm.

Whilst Mbappé ultimately re-integrated the first team following PSG’s opening day draw against FC Lorient, there has been little talk of a renewal. The facilitator of Mbappé’s re-integration is reportedly the Frenchman’s acceptance to forego considerable loyalty bonuses. 

However, despite Mbappé now being able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with other clubs, ahead of a free transfer, there is optimism at PSG. According to The Athletic and L’Équipe, Les Parisiens are growing increasingly optimistic that Mbappé will once again shun interest and remain at the club. 

Finances limit Mbappé suitors

Mbappé’s perceived happiness at the club, following some big-name departures in the summer and the reconstruction of the project by Luis Enrique and Luís Campos, both of whom he shares good relations with, is a source of hope for PSG, who will be desperate to avoid the fiasco that marred the second half of the 2021/22 season.

Another source of optimism for PSG is the lack of suitors for Mbappé. The Frenchman, although arriving potentially on a free, would have extortionate wage demands, limiting the number of clubs that could feasibly pull off a deal. “There is no chance [of signing Mbappé], absolutely no chance. Sorry for killing the idea,” said Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in November, citing the financial barriers to a move. 

Manchester City, one of the few clubs financially capable of signing Mbappé, are also unlikely to make a move. “Manchester City aren’t after Mbappé. Everyone knows where he wants to go,” said Pep Guardiola back in June. As reported by RMC Sport, Barcelona’s reported interest in signing the AS Monaco academy product is unfounded, and given the Catalan club’s financial difficulties, completely unrealistic. 

Real Madrid and Saudi Arabia in the race

As things stand, only Real Madrid and Saudi Arabia have the means to sign Mbappé. A move to the latter seems unlikely, given the Frenchman’s rejection of a move in the summer. However, that has not deterred Michael Emenalo, the Suadi Pro League Director of Football. 

“With Mbappé, the conversation is open,” Emenalo began in an interview with Marca earlier in December. “But we don’t know what he wants to do. Our position is clear: all of these kinds of players know where we are. If there is a possibility or an interest from Mbappé to be a part of what we’re building, today or in the future, we can’t reject the possibility. It is a player that I like.”

The more likely scenario sees Mbappé heading to Real Madrid this summer. According to The Athletic, Real Madrid are preparing a limited-time offer for Mbappé, who must respond to the proposal by mid-January. The offer is likely to be less lucrative than the one offered back in 2022. Whilst Mbappé is now free to negotiate with any club, he is not exactly spoilt for choice. 

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

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