Marseille faces transfer crisis as sales delay reinforcements

Marseille’s recruitment plans are now tied to outgoing transfers, leaving the club unable to strengthen several positions before the summer window closes. The financial priority is to reduce the wage bill and restore balance to the accounts, even after the team opened the season with a victory over Strasbourg.

Players with high salaries or significant market value are consequently exposed, including Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Quinten Timber and captain Leonardo Balerdi. Until one or more departures are completed, the club’s work on incoming deals remains restricted. Bruno Genesio must therefore wait despite clear needs in goal, central defence or at right-back, midfield and the wings.

Marseille has identified Jean-Clair Todibo as a defensive target and Yann Gboho as an attacking option. Contacts with the players and their representatives are advanced in some cases, but negotiations with their clubs have yet to properly begin. Goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, also considered by Marseille, is nearing a move to Eintracht Frankfurt.

The potential sale of Igor Paixao is causing particular concern. Sunderland’s interest could produce a substantial fee, but Paixao’s strong pre-season and the departures of Mason Greenwood, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hamed Junior Traore have made the winger’s retention important to the squad. Genesio and sporting director Grégory Lorenzi are pushing to keep him, fearing that his exit without a replacement would damage the team’s ambitions.