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

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

The OGC Nice youth product has signed a one-year contract with the Californian team with options for 2025 and 2026. The 2018 World Cup winner with France leaves Tottenham after playing 447 games with the North London side. Lloris terminated his contract with Spurs on Friday, paving the way for his move to Los Angeles FC.

“I just wanted to say thank you” pic.twitter.com/kvde71S7rb

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 30, 2023

The 37-year-old goalkeeper has not played a single minute for Spurs since an abysmal 6-1 away defeat at Newcastle United in April. Tottenham signed Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli as a long-term replacement for Lloris. The 37-year-old called time on his international career last year, in the aftermath of France’s defeat in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina, his 145th and final cap with Les Bleus.

‘Arguably the most successful goalkeeper of his generation’

“Hugo is arguably the most successful goalkeeper of his generation and a proven winner“, said LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington. “We are incredibly excited that Hugo has chosen LAFC for the next phase of his illustrious career (…) I would like to thank Tottenham for their collaboration, and I join all of Los Angeles in extending a warm welcome to Hugo, his wife Marine, and their three children to LAFC.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

The former France skipper, who announced his international retirement a year ago, has not played a single minute this Premier League season with Tottenham, with Italian shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario impressing between the sticks. The North London side have already greenlit Lloris’ departure for next winter’s transfer window. Unless a change at the 11th hour, Lloris will don the LAFC jersey from next February onwards.

No games played since April 2023

The 2018 World Champion with France was courted by many clubs willing to acquire his services. In the wake of Nick Pope’s injury, Newcastle United reportedly identified Lloris as a suitable replacement. However, Le Parisien understands that the Toons never really entertained the prospect of luring the Nice youth product to St James Park. Lazio were also keen to make a move for Lloris last summer.

Lloris is set to put pen to paper over a one-year contract with Los Angeles FC, the 2023 MLS season runners-up. The Californian franchise might be Lloris’ final club before hanging up his gloves for good. Lloris’ 444th and final appearance for Tottenham occurred during an abysmal 6-1 away defeat at Newcastle, on April 23rd. The 37-year-old had to sit out the remainder of the 2022-2023 Premier League season with a hip injury.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

The outlet understands that the Ligue 1 champions were in the market for a left-footed centre-back, in order to bolster their squad during next winter’s transfer window, given Presnel Kimpembe’s injury woes. L’Equipe adds that PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi entertained talks with the Peacocks to bring Struijk to the French capital. Les Parisiens have reportedly identified the Netherlands international for weeks now.

PSG outpriced by Leeds’ valuation of Struijk

Negotiations over the future of Struijk were reportedly difficult, with Leeds United probably driving up his price tag given PSG’s status and urgency to address their defensive struggles. Paris Saint-Germain have left negotiations over Struijk, who is tied to Elland Road with a contract set to expire in 2027. The Ligue 1 side now intends to seal the arrival of Brazilian prospect Lucas Beraldo (20). The Sao Paulo FC defender’s transfer fee is set to reach the €20m mark for PSG.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

As a coach, Gourcuff emphasised his teams’ technicality in midfield with a slightly dogmatic approach. With Chirivella’s passing and vision, Gourcuff made him a starter immediately, and the former Liverpool hasn’t looked back since, despite the endless cycle of managers’ sackings at La Beaujoire. The former Valencia CF graduate even won his first senior trophy, the 2022 Coupe de France, with Les Canaris. This title gifted Nantes a berth in the Europa League group stage. However, the squad was stretched too thin on all three fronts – the team even reached the Coupe de France final – and results turned disastrous in the league.

Playing through the pain

Unfortunately, Antoine Kombouaré could not rely on Chirivella’s positional awareness and press to trigger transitions and keep the boat afloat. The Spaniard, who had renewed his contract with Nantes until 2026, had to call an end to his season after suffering from a hip strain. With Nantes heading for a return to Ligue 2, Chirivella put his body on the line, making himself available to newly-named Nantes head coach Pierre Aristouy, who lauded his player’s commitment. “Within the squad, Pedro is seen as an extremely generous and valuable player who does a lot of work on the pitch.“

Chirivella played through the pain in the final game of the Ligue 1 season, which Nantes eventually won to ensure their Ligue 1 survival. This season, the former Liverpool man has been handed the captaincy and he does not hesitate to shake his teammates up after a bad performance, as he did against Metz (1-3). “I never thought I would be captain three years after I arrived here. It’s a source of pride, happiness and responsibility. You have to try to get the whole group on the same path to get to the same place“, Chirivella said to Ouest-France recently.

Chirivella’s commitment on and off the pitch has earned him the praise of many. He has been elected Nantes’ player of the month for November. It remains to be seen whether the 26-year-old will keep dictating the tempo at Nantes for the long run or fulfil his ambition to play in La Liga in his peak years.

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Last September, Lingard joined Saudi Arabia and Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq for a one-month training stint. However, the Saudi Arabia outfit could not offer him a contract, given Al-Ettifaq already reached the maximum number of foreign players in their squad, with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and former Lyon striker Moussa Dembélé joining the Dammam-based outfit last summer.

MLS is Lingard’s likeliest destination

After turning 31 ten days ago, Lingard has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet. Foot Mercato understands that Lille OSC, who plan to lure a striker, is one of the three Ligue 1 clubs Lingard was offered to. Unfortunately, as an English national, the Manchester United youth product is considered as “extracommunautarian” since Brexit for Ligue 1 clubs. Every French top-flight team can register up to four players coming from non-EU states or countries without cooperation agreement with the EU. An overwhelming majority of Ligue 1 clubs have reached the quota.

The outlet understands that Ligue 1 and the Saudi Pro League are options being considered by Lingard. However, Foot Mercato adds that joining the United States’ MLS is the most plausible outcome for the former Red Devil.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

However, the faithful Canaris fans would have probably preferred not to see the former Guingamp man put pen to paper with their bitter Brittany rivals Stade Rennais. Still, the 25-year-old had the courtesy not to run down his contract with Nantes to go on a free, leaving La Beaujoire in a €15m switch after four seasons of truly memorable moments.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗳 Ludovic Blas

𝟰 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 en jaune et vert. pic.twitter.com/sVDNLW3iFS

— FC Nantes (@FCNantes) July 5, 2023

Blas was Antoine Kombouaré’s Nantes’ driving force – a pacy and deft dribbler with a keen eye for goal and gifted with some serious ball-striking abilities. Who ran half of the Juventus’ pitch to rifle past Wojciech Szczęsny in Turin? Blas did. Who scored a stunning acrobatic volley against Lyon in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France? Blas did. Who dribbled past two Angers players to assist Ignatius Ganago for Nantes’ most vital goal of the season on the final matchday? You know who.

Struggling for game time at Rennes

On the back of a successful 2021-22 season, in which Nantes over-performed in the league with a ninth-place finish and a Coupe de France title – Blas scored the final’s only goal against Nice, with a trademark torpedo from the penalty spot – Lille heavily courted the 2016 U19 European champion. Nantes stood firm. It could have proven their undoing, given Blas’ inconsistency and struggles to link up with teammates not as talented as he is.

He flourished with Randal Kolo Muani two years ago, but not so much the following season. Despite being given the armband, Blas considered Nantes a stepping stone for his career. Talks of a contract renewal with Les Canaris never really gathered pace. The time to take a leap of faith had come.

Bruno Genesio’s Rennes made their move and Blas looked very much at ease in preseason. The 25-year-old played as a right-sided winger under the guidance of Genesio, as a de facto replacement for the Manchester City-bound Jérémy Doku. However, Rennes’ struggling start of the season – culminating with Genesio’s resignation – has taken its toll on Blas’ confidence, despite some acceptable statistics (five goal contributions in 19 games).

It would be unfair to say Blas is having a worse season in Brittany than the likes of Enzo Le Fée, Arnaud Kalimuendo or Amine Gouiri. However, with Stéphan opting for a 3-4-3 set-up, Blas has fallen the pecking order with the Algeria international starting ahead of him. The upcoming 2024 AFCON may be Blas’ chance to kickstart his Rennes career back and remind Ligue 1 of his outrageous skills.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

The latest was an abysmal performance at on-fire Brittany rivals Stade Brestois. Eric Roy’s well-drilled team were already leading 4-0 at half-time courtesy of an extraordinary 4-goal haul in 26 minutes by Malian international Kamory Doumbia (20). Former Manchester City left-back Benjamin Mendy was replaced after the hour mark for Lorient.

‘Get as far away from our club as possible!’

After leaving Brest’s Stade Francis Le Blé, the Lorient team coach was “welcomed” to their training ground at Kerlir by the stench of 400 kilograms (881 pounds) of rotten fish poured by the Merlus Ultras 1995, the club’s most ardent fan group.

Merlus Ultras has released this statement. “Following the latest disgraceful (we’re being nice) defeat of our team, action will be taken at Kerlir after the game. 400 kilograms of fish will be poured at the gate with a message that reads ‘Truly rotten, like you‘. May the people who are not bothered, and who do not respect the FC Lorient institution, ‘Get as far away from our club as possible!’

GFFN | Bastien Cheval