According to L’Équipe, Turkish giants Trabzonspor are due to have an offer rejected for Toulouse’s versatile midfielder Jean Daniel Akpa Akpro worth less than €2m.
The Ivorian has not hid his desire to discover a new league this season, but is waiting to recover from a previous injury before making a decision on his future.
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Brazilian central defender Dante is expected to arrive in Nice tomorrow to undergo a medical ahead of signing a three year contract with Les Aiglons, according to Nice Matin.
The finer details of the exact nature of the fee agreement between OGC Nice and Wolfsburg are still being worked out, but the deal is expected to be worth around €2m.
This move should enable OGC Nice to revert to a 5-3-2 formation, with Ricardo Pereira and Dalbert as the two attacking full-backs.
OGC Nice still want to sign another three players on top of Dante, including a defensive midfielder, a number 10 and a striker.
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According to Le Progrès, Ligue 1 side Angers SCO have opened discussions with French central midfielder Jérémy Clément’s entourage about a possible move.
SCO are looking to Clément to replace Romain Saiss, who appears set to join Wolves in the English Championship.
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Angers have offered the player a three year contract and talks between St Étienne and Moulin’s men are ongoing concerning a fee agreement.
Talks have in recent hours advanced between Montpellier and Angers for the transfer of 29 year old central midfielder Jamel Saihi, according to L’Équipe.
Angers have agreed a two year contract with an option to extend by a third in principle with the player.
Angers continue to negotiate with Montpellier concerning a fee, that appears set to be concluded at around the €800k mark, but there remain wrinkles to be ironed out.
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LFP Interim President Didier Quillot announced yesterday that the body is considering penalising clubs financially for poor quality pitches.
“We are aware of and regret the situation. We have written to the three clubs concerned, SC Bastia, Bordeaux and Montpellier. They need to offer us some solutions quickly… We are thinking about the possibility of financial sanctions for insufficient pitches. That cannot be put in place this season, but maybe next season.”
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Former AS Monaco transfer guru Luis Campos has joined up with Luxembourg businessman Gérard Lopez, who just last weekend signed an exclusivity agreement with Lille to become the Ligue 1 side’s new owner.
Luis Campos had been involved in intense negotiations with Marseille, but according to France Football the man who is currently working as a freelancer for Manchester United decided that OM’s budget for the winter transfer window was not acceptable enough.
Campos is understood to have identified 3 points of weakness within the OM squad, laying out a plan to sign reinforcements in those areas in January, including in defence.
He is understood to have been unimpressed with the degree to which Marseille were unwilling to undergo a total footballing overhaul in terms of training and scouting methods as well.
Campos had also provisionally earmarked three potential managers for new Marseille owner Frank McCourt to go after, notably Jocelyn Gourvennec, Rudi Garcia and Laurent Blanc. The second name in that list has interested new Marseille President Jacques-Henri Eyraud.
Speaking in a press release, Campos confirmed that he would be aiding Mr Lopez in forming his Lille project in the coming months:
“I have had the opportunity to exchange a lot with Gérard Lopez. I was able to appreciate his professionalism but also his true passion for football. This decision will allow us to do some very wonderful things in the future.”
The great irony is that Gérard Lopez was one of the key contenders alongside McCourt to buy Marseille, and made his frustration known to the French media when the former LA Dodgers owner was selected instead of him.
Now, it appears, he has got revenge already on OM, nicking away from them a potential Sporting Director.
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Josh Mart takes the opportunity to preview Paris Saint Germain’s final Champions League match of 2016 at home against Bulgarian sides Ludogorets Razgrad.
The French Champions managed to secure a hugely important 2-2 away at Arsenal last time around, a result means that PSG have all but secured top spot in Group A, unless they fail to match the Gunners result here of course.
The performance of the team at the Emirates was had its positives and negatives, although Unai Emery will be delighted and somewhat relieved to see his side sit at the top of the table ahead of the final matchday.
Ludogorets still have hope of making it into 3rd place, which means a shot at the Europa League in the New Year. They simply need to match Swiss side Basel’s result against Arsenal, no matter the final score, as the Bulgarians have the better head to head ratio which would see them finish in third position.
PSG’s domestic form has been troubling to say the least for coach Unai Emery. Despite four of their last five matches in Ligue 1, Les Parisiens sit in 3rd place in the standings as we head towards France’s winter break.
The good run of form of late as abruptly halted by a resounding 3-0 defeat at Montpellier in the south of France on Saturday. PSG are 4 points behind surprise package Nice, and have thrown in shock results such as the one against Montpellier far to regularly this season.
Ludogorets have been in superb form of late in the Bulgarian First League and they currently sit six points clear of second placed Levski Sofia and with a game in hand. Last Wednesday’s 2-1 win against the aforementioned Levski was Ludogorets’ twelfth win in a row in the league competition, so their confidence will be extremely high right now.
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Team News and Tactics
Unai Emery has a few selection headaches ahead of this match at the Parc des Princes. The match against Arsenal was a costly one for Marco Verratti, he scored a very unfortunate own goal and got himself suspended for this final match up so PSG will be without him. Elsewhere, Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot are missing through injury.
With this in mind, I expect PSG to lineup in their usual 4-3-3 formation with Areola between the posts, Aurier who missed the Arsenal trip through visa issues is expected to regain his place at right back. Marquinhos, Thiago Silva and Maxwell are expected to make up the rest of the back four.
With Verratti missing, I would imagine Matuidi will drop back into midfield alongside Thiago Motta and probably Krychowiak, although Emery could opt to play the more attacking Hatem Ben Arfa instead with Di Maria dropping into midfield.
The front three will of course be spearheaded by Edinson Cavani and he is likely to be supported by Lucas and Di Maria. Unai Emery could decide to play a couple of youngsters like Nkunku or Kimpembe, but with the win still needed, I think we will see them from the bench if at all.
Ludogorets have just the one major injury concern; Vitinha will miss out through a knee injury here.
With this in mind I expect coach Dermendzhiev to set his side out in a quite narrow 4-2-3-1 formation with Stoyanov in goals. Protecting him will likely be Palomino and Moti at the heart of the defence, with Cichinho and Natanael the full backs. Dyakov and Andrianantenaina are set to start in front of the back.
The talented front 4 for Ludogorets is why they have caused teams problems in the past and I think Dermendzhiev will opt to play Misidjan, Cafu and Wanderson are likely to start behind Keseru in attack, although Lukoki or Marcelinho could replace one of the advanced 3 midfielders if necessary.
Danger Men
Lucas Moura (PSG) – In a side which can occasionally lack pace and directness in attack, Lucas Moura provides it in abundance. He is very skilful and can also provide assists for his team mates.
His headed goal at the Emirates a few weeks ago was a surprise, but he undoubtedly has the talent and desire to notch against the Bulgarians here tonight.
Misidjan (Ludogorets) – Virgil Misidjan or ‘Vura’, as he likes to be known, was once labelled a potential top talent when he broke through the ranks of local club Willem II in Holland in 2012 but his move to Ludogorets was considered by most a bad choice for a promising young winger.
However, Misidjan has performed well over the 3 years or so that he has played in Razgrad, and he has the pace and trickery to cause PSG problems at the Parc des Princes.
Prediction
Tonight’s match is one that PSG should win and I think they will. The Bulgarians caused both PSG and Arsenal some problems on home soil, but I think the trip to Paris will be one step too far for Ludogorets. The home side need the three points to make top spot theirs and I expect them to be comfortable winners here.
Prediction: PSG 3-0 Ludogorets
According to our colleagues at Foot 365, Hebei China Fortune attacking midfielder Ezequiel Lavezzi’s entourage is in talks with OGC Nice.
Les Aiglons are looking to potentially bring the former PSG man on a 6 month loan deal.
When asked about the rumours in a press conference today, OGC Nice manager Lucien Favre claimed he was unaware of any talks:
“I am not aware. He is a good player… he would create an atmosphere in the dressing room.”
Ezequiel Lavezzi is understood to be seeking an exit door from China to return to Europe for the second half of the season as he seeks more regular and competitive game time.
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In the furore surrounding the incidents in Metz on Saturday, it may have been easy to forget that what is Lyon’s biggest match of the season takes place this evening at the Parc OL.
Defeat Sevilla by two goals or more and Lyon are through to the knockout stages of the Champions’ League for the first time in five years. Any other result sees them drop into the Europa League, a result which, while disappointing, still comes on the back of two of the club’s most impressive performances.
Going toe-to-toe with Juventus was hardly to be expected given the way the club had capitulated against Sevilla at the Pizjuan, but the point earned in Turin was enough to make this match matter after the Bianconeri did Lyon a favor by winning 3-1 in Spain.
Team News:
Lyon have nearly a full complement of players available to them, as Anthony Lopes, the primary victim in Saturday’s incident, has returned to training. Likewise young centre back Emanuel Mammana, who has brushed off a thigh injury and could see a place on the bench owing to his lacking match fitness.
Christophe Jallet is still a miss at right back, but otherwise the team is fully fit, and the only questions surround how Bruno Genesio will set the team up.
The team had played an expansive double pivot system in the second half against Paris Saint-Germain, turning in one of their more coherent attacking performances in the process. Needing to score, Genesio should do well to progress with that system. Lopes should start in goal if training yesterday wasn’t an issue, with a back four of Rafael, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Mouctar Diakhaby and Jérémy Morel.
Maciej Rybus could supplant the former Marseille man at left back, but with Rafael more likely to be getting forward in attack, Genesio will crave the solidity that the veteran brings. Corentin Tolisso and Maxime Gonalons will be in central midfield, with Mathieu Valbuena and Rachid Ghezzal in wide areas.
Nabil Fekir was rested against Metz, and he should partner Alexandre Lacazette in a slightly withdrawn role. There is a small chance Genesio could opt for a 4-3-3 with one of Sergi Darder or Jordan Ferri in and Fekir, Ghezzal or Valbuena dropping to the bench, but the manager should opt to have as many goal-scoring options on the pitch as possible.
Sevilla have a similarly empty treatment table, although Fran Vazquez is suspended after being sent off against Juventus and Dani Carrico is unlikely to feature owing to a thigh injury, while former Bordeaux man Benoit Tremoulinas is a long-term absence.
Even though we have a fairly solid idea of the personnel available to manager Jorge Sampaoli, guessing how he will deploy them is another matter. A draw is enough to secure progression, but a win could see Sevilla top the group on 13 points if Juventus should stumble against Dinamo Zagreb.
Sergio Rico is a given in goal, and a nominal 4-2-3-1 makes the most sense, especially given the propensity of the fullbacks to get forward, but a three-man defence could also be deployed, as it provides more solidity in central areas without sacrificing the attacking intent of the full-backs.
If the latter is the case, Adil Rami, who missed the reverse fixture, will start alongside Nicolas Pareja and Gabriel Mercado, with Timothée Kolodziejczak a candidate as well.
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Mariano and Sergio Escudero, who was magnificent when these team met earlier, would be wing-backs, with a midfield of Steven N’Zonzi, Vicente Iborra and Samir Nasri.
Vitolo would then play off of one of Luciano Vietto or Wissam Ben Yedder. The Argentine was profligate against Lyon earlier, but has been more decisive in the league of late.
That said, Ben Yedder may be a better option given his ability to stretch play on the counter. Sampaoli himself was elusive about his eleven in yesterday’s pre-match press conference, acknowledging the different abilities of the pair and saying the it was a decision he was yet to make.
However he sets his side up, Sevilla, who sit third in La Liga, are still a dangerous opponent, and Lyon will do very well to get the result that they need.
Danger Men:
Mathieu Valbuena, Olympique Lyonnais
Rested against Metz at the weekend, “Le Petit Velo” has been incandescent of late, scoring against Paris Saint-Germain and delivering a man-of-the-match performance against Nantes a week ago.
Misused tactically upon arriving in Lyon and suffering under the emotional weight of being a former Marseille player and his sex tape scandal, Valbuena rarely demonstrated his considerable capabilities last season. This campaign has been marred by injury, and he is only recently back to full fitness.
Playing on the left of a 4-3-3, his preferred system, his dribbling ability and passing have been top-drawer, and with Rachid Ghezzal similarly stretching play on the opposite flank, Lyon have finally showed themselves to be a capable attacking side.
With at least two goals needed against Sevilla, if Les Gones are to have any hope of progression, Valbuena will have to be back to his incisive best.
Steven N’Zonzi, Sevilla FC
N’Zonzi has always been a player of some quality, having impressed during his time at Stoke City. He was also an integral part of Sevilla under Unai Emery’s management as well, but under Jorge Sampaoli, he has blossomed, even being discussed for the national side.
Given the competition for places under Didier Deschamps, that is still an unlikely scenario, but is a testament to his energy and work rate. Against Lyon in the reverse fixture, and often in La Liga, N’Zonzi has been a one-man wrecking crew in midfield, his endless running covering the ground two or three players would.
This has allowed Sevilla to play with not only a slew of attacking midfielders but also see the fullbacks bomb on as well.
It may seem reckless to play with only one defensive midfielder and two centre backs as orthodox defensive players, but the way N’Zonzi can control a midfield means that the club’s performances have rarely suffered.
Score Prediction: Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 Sevilla FC
E.D.
Premier League side Southampton have made an enquiry for PSG’s French international central defender Presnel Kimpembe, according to our colleagues at L’Équipe.
The Saints appear to be activating back up plans for the possible departures of either José Fonte or Virgil van Djik. However, there is virtually no chance of Kimpembe joining Claude Puel’s men next month, as he is currently PSG’s third and only other choice at centre-back behind Marquinhos and Thiago Silva.
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