Marseille Archives - A Different League

Striker commits future to the Gunners

June 4, 2017 Vyom Chaudhary

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has reiterated his commitment to the North London club in the wake of recent rumours linking him with a summer exit from the club. The France international has been a regular fixture of Arsene Wenger’s side since moving to Premier League from Montpellier in 2012. During his time at Arsenal, he has quite often been a subject of criticism from the club fans, and he was recently linked with a move back to France with Marseille said to be interested in him. However, Giroud, who recently…

Former United player moves to Ligue 1, Mourinho makes statement on Martial

January 26, 2017 Ricci Rox

Manchester United fan favourite, Patrice Evra, signed a deal with Olympique Marseille yesterday. The 35-year-old moved to Juventus in the summer of 2014 after a very successful nine-year spell at Old Trafford. Evra, who was a part of the Juve team that made its way to the 2015 Champions League finals, signed an 18-month-deal with the French outfit and will be officially unveiled at a press conference tonight. United fans around the world were hoping for a return to Old Trafford, most likely in a reduced playing role, but it…

West Ham man set for move to France, Zaza joins Valencia

January 17, 2017 Ricci Rox

West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet is set for a move to French side Olympique Marseille, according to a report from reliable French publication L’Equipe. Over the last couple of days, conflicting stories have emerged in the media. BBC has claimed that the Hammers have turned down Marseille’s improved offer of £19m while the Guardian is claiming that the Hammers want the player to apologise for his behaviour. The Frenchman handed in a transfer request over a week ago to the chagrin of manager Slaven Bilic. Although Bilic came out to state the club’s…

Marseille agree terms with West Ham star

January 13, 2017 Ricci Rox

Following West Ham manager Slaven Bilic’s revelation that Dimitri Payet wants to leave the club, French publication L’Equipe, this morning, have reported that Marseille have reached an agreement with the Frenchman. Payet has reached an agreement with Marseille pic.twitter.com/hzJz353yiY — Matt Spiro (@mattspiro) January 13, 2017 The 29-year-old attacking midfielder had a blistering start to his career in England, capped off by an international call-up to the Euros. He, however, has found life harder this season, caused, in part by West Ham’s struggles to maintain their great form from last…

Scouting Chelsea’s new golden boy Michy Batshuayi

June 29, 2016 Vincent Van Genechten

Chelsea fans will be able to watch a new striker at Stamford Bridge next season, as the Blues paid £33.2 million to Marseille for Michy Batshuayi. Crystal Palace, West Ham and Juventus were also interested in the Belgium international, with Palace having their £31.6m bid accepted by the Ligue 1 club on Monday. However, Batshuayi turned down the move to Palace once Chelsea registered their interest in his services. The 22-year-old, who scored 23 goals in all competitions last season, will be the first signing of Antonio Conte’s spell at the…

Chelsea clinch signing of Euro 2016 star, also interested in Argentina star

June 29, 2016 Vyom Chaudhary

Chelsea are close to signing Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi in a deal worth £33.2 million, according to the a report by French source L’Equipe. He is expected to take a leave from Belgium camp, ahead of Friday’s quarter-final against Wales in Lille, and arrive in London for a medical and sign a five-year deal. The 22-year-old, who scored 23 goals in all competitions last season, will be the first signing of Antonio Conte’s spell at the West London club. Crystal Palace, West Ham and Juventus were also interested in the Belgium…

Chelsea in talks with French star goalkeeper

June 16, 2016 Vincent Van Genechten

Chelsea have begun talks with Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda as they look to make him Thibaut Courtois’s understudy at Stamford Bridge. According to a report by The Guardian, the 31-year-old is set to leave Marseille after a very poor season when his contract ends this month. He played nine years at the Stade Vélodrome and has expressed an interest in pursuing his career in the Premier League, after once having an unsuccessful trial with Aston Villa. Mandanda is currently France’s second goalkeeper at Euro 2016, backing up Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris. He’s been…

West Ham launch record bid for star striker to beat heavy competition

May 6, 2016May 6, 2016 Vincent Van Genechten

West Ham have reportedly launched a record bid to lure in Marseille’s striker Michy Batshuayi, according to The Guardian. However, the Hammers are facing heavy competition. West Ham are understood to be in talks over Batshuayi with the French club and any deal would break their record transfer fee, which currently stands at the £15 million the club paid Liverpool to sign Andy Carroll. According to reports in France, Marseille are under pressure to balance their books and deliver on the budget that they had presented to the league’s financial…

Steven Fletcher is the “Fresh Prince of Marseille” [Video]

February 17, 2016 Vincent Van Genechten

This January, Steven Fletcher made a remarkable move, leaving Sunderland on loan to join Olympique de Marseille. However, the Scotsman has been pretty decent so far, providing one goal and one assist in three appearances. That made has team-mates decide to get Fletcher his traditional initiation, which obliges a new player to stand up and sing a song of his choice at meal time. And “Fletch” selected to sing the theme song to the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The result is pretty funny… What did @stevenfletch10 have to do for his…

Marseille write weird article to introduce Steven Fletcher to their fans

February 2, 2016 Vincent Van Genechten

Steven Fletcher joined Ligue 1 giants Olympique Marseille on a loan move from Sunderland, but we’re not sure the French side are really happy about their new player. On the club’s website, the 28-year-old got a ‘warm welcome’. “He will not leave you unmoved. He will not go unnoticed. Marseille has added a Scotsman to the mix. And if you know anything about the mentality of that people, you’ll know that’s good news.” Considering how many Scottish players have altered football clubs’ faiths over the past few season, that doesn’t really…

Steven Fletcher joins Marseille in loan deal

February 1, 2016 David Nugent

In a surprise move, Scotland international striker Steven Fletcher has joined French Ligue One side Marseille on-loan until the end of the campaign, according to Sky Sports. The former-Hibernian star had fallen out-of-favour with Black Cats boss Sam Allardyce and has not appeared for the north east club in the last five matches. The 28-year-old has scored just four goals this season and England international Jermain Defoe has forced him out of the starting line-up in the past few weeks. Fletcher’s contract with Sunderland expires in the summer and he…

Stoke set to bring in Giannelli Imbula

February 1, 2016 David Nugent

Stoke boss Mark Hughes has confirmed that Stoke are in talks with Porto to sign highly-rated French international midfielder Gianelli Imbula in a deal worth £18million. The mooted transfer fee would be a club-record one for the Potters, whose previous transfer record fee was the £12million they paid for Swiss international midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri from Italian giants Inter in the summer. Imbula is highly-regarded as a powerhouse defensive midfielder and as one of the best up-and-coming players in his position in European football. Potters boss Mark Hughes is confident of…

Arsenal and Chelsea URGED to splash £25m on ‘new Paul Pogba’

June 26, 2015 Steve Green

Former French national team boss Raymond Domenech has said that he believes both Geoffrey Kondogbia and Giannelli Imbula can be as good as Juventus star Paul Pogba, according to the Daily Express. READ MORE: Arsenal News and Gossip Chelsea midfielder refuses to rule out surprise Arsenal move Arsenal outcast BEGS with club to lower asking price to allow him to leave Premier League giants Arsenal were linked with a move for Kondogbia recently, but he turned down the chance to head for north London in favour of a move to…