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August 4, 2024

Mason Greenwood Missing from Marseille’s Preseason Friendly Squad Against Sunderland in the UK – Ligue 1

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According to La Provence, Mason Greenwood (22) has been omitted from Marseille’s squad for their preseason friendly against Sunderland, which is scheduled for Saturday in the UK. Bradford City will host the match at their Valley Parade stadium in Yorkshire.

La Provence reports that the former Manchester United forward is sidelined due to a muscle injury, rendering him unavailable for the match against Sunderland. This setback has prevented Greenwood from returning to play before English audiences. Marseille opted not to risk further injury to their striker.

Greenwood joined Stade Vélodrome from Old Trafford in a €31.6 million transfer. Although Marseille has officially cited an injury as the reason for his absence, French sources suggest that the omission might also be a strategic move to avoid potential complications associated with his return to England.

Arsenal Turn Down Marseille’s €27m Offer for Eddie Nketiah

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Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal has declined Olympique de Marseille’s initial offer for Eddie Nketiah, which was approximately €27 million.

The Premier League club considered Marseille’s initial bid insufficient, as it fell short of their asking price for the English striker. According to L’Équipe, while Marseille has finalized personal terms with Nketiah, who is eager to move to Stade Vélodrome this summer, the offer still needs to be adjusted for Arsenal to approve the transfer.

Olympique de Marseille is eager to finalize the acquisition of Arsenal’s forward promptly, driven by concerns that interest from Premier League teams could jeopardize their chances of securing the former Leeds United loanee. According to L’Équipe, Marseille is preparing to submit a revised offer to Arsenal for Eddie Nketiah to expedite the deal and avoid losing out to potential competitors. This potential transfer has sparked anticipation among football fans, eager to see Nketiah in a new environment.

Confirmation: Chelsea’s Andrey Santos Rejoins Strasbourg on Loan

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Chelsea and Strasbourg have announced that midfielder Andrey Santos, aged 20, is rejoining the Ligue 1 club on loan. The Brazilian had previously played for Strasbourg during the latter half of last season, where he featured in 11 matches and scored once. Santos departed Chelsea’s preseason tour in the United States to rejoin Liam Rosenior’s team in the Black Forest, as Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace reported.

Santos is tied with Chelsea over a long-term contract set to expire in 2030. During his brief stint with Patrick Vieira’s Alsaciens last season, the Brazil international was one of the rare Strasbourg players to stand out amid a struggling season for the Ligue 1 club. In the previous two months of the campaign, Santos was elected Player of the Month by Strasbourg fans. The 20-year-old will continue wearing the #8 jersey with Strasbourg.

Confirmed: Djibril Sidibé Joins Toulouse FC

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Djibril Sidibé, 32, has joined Ligue 1 club Toulouse FC, as confirmed by the Garonne-based team. The former Everton right-back was a free agent following the conclusion of his two-year contract with AEK Athens in Greece. A World Cup winner with France in 2018, Sidibé returns to France after stints with Troyes, Lille OSC, and AS Monaco, where he secured the Ligue 1 title in 2017. With 225 Ligue 1 appearances to his name, Sidibé brings a wealth of experience to Toulouse, a fact that should reassure the club’s supporters. However, the club has not revealed the details of his contract duration.

Toulouse sought a new right-back following Mikkel Desler’s departure to Major League Soccer side Austin FC. Djibril Sidibé becomes Toulouse’s second acquisition of the summer transfer window, joining after Charlie Cresswell, 21, was signed from Leeds United. Under the guidance of Carles Martinez Novell, Toulouse will kick off their 2024-2025 Ligue 1 season at home against FC Nantes.