Who's moving where as the close of the transfer window peeps over the horizon in Ligue 1?
All the transfer news and gossip from Ligue 1 as interest in French talent hots up
The transfer window is now approaching its final week and a number of deals between French and British clubs have yet to be concluded. Although a handful of moves went through last week involving Premier League players, there are still some unresolved issues. With PSG looking set to dip back into the transfer market again before the close of the window, their activity could again cause a chain reaction for other clubs.
Transfer gossip
The saga surrounding Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga's move to Newcastle has taken a fresh twist following his refusal to play again in Sunday's match against Nancy. The Mali international has been the subject of interest from the North East outfit in recent weeks and having made himself unavailable for Sochaux's previous match, a home defeat to Caen, he repeated his tactic this weekend in order to try and force through a move.
Sochaux are reported to be unwilling to discuss his future but with the player's links with the club damaged beyond repair, les Lionceaux will be looking to resolve his future as soon as possible in order to bring in a replacement. Alan Pardew retains his interest in the player despite the drawn-out pursuit of his signature and recently spoke about his efforts to sign him: "We have made a bid. We can't condone the player's actions, what he's doing, but we would like to see him at Newcastle."
However, those comments were before Newcastle got drawn into the middle of a tapping-up row which emerged in the French press on Monday morning. Sochaux chairman Alexandre Lacombe has spoken out regarding the ongoing Maiga situation and indicated that Newcastle have been underhand in the way they are dealing with the transfer.
Speaking to
L'Est Republicain Lacombe said: "Newcastle are continuing to contact our players despite our refusal to talk. We will register a complaint to Uefa telling them such behaviour is not fair play. It is destabilising the team."
In addition to the rumoured €10million bid the Magpies have made for Maiga, the club have now made Lyon left-back Aly Cissokho a 'priority' signing according to
mercato365.com and the French outlet expect a deal to be announced this week. Another player at the centre of interest from Premier League sides is Rennes' talismanic midfielder Yann M'Vila. The highly-rated France international has been the subject of intense interest from Chelsea in recent weeks and reports in France on Monday suggest that Arsenal have now joined the chase and actually tabled a bid.
The rumoured transfer to Chelsea was reported to be worth €30million so the €12million figure touted regarding Arsene Wenger's bid seems well below any price the Breton outfit would consider. M'Vila recently extended his contract with the club and announced that he would be staying for at least another year and this is a stance reflected by the board's hierarchy.
Pierre Dreossi, Rennes' general manager told
L'Equipe: "I don't know anything about a bid. Yann has extended his contract with us so a departure is not relevant. He has started the season with us and he will finish it with us. That is very clear."
Another player who has been linked with Arsenal recently is Marseille's Mathieu Valbuena. It would appear they are prepared to let the talented midfielder go though as l'OM's Sporting Director Jose Anigo told
RMC Radio: ''When a player has spent five or six years at a club, out of respect for him, nothing is closed. We are very pleased with him, but if a big club is interested in Mathieu, we will listen.''
