The Olympique de Marseille is making headlines as it seeks to bolster its attack following the departure of Elye Wahi to Eintracht Frankfurt. With Wahi's exit seemingly imminent, Marseille has turned its attention to Amine Gouiri, the 24-year-old forward currently contracted to Stade Rennais until 2027.
Roberto De Zerbi, Marseille's coach, confirmed the need for an additional striker, emphasizing the importance of filling the gap left by Wahi’s departure. "If Wahi goes, we need to bring someone strong to fill his shoes," De Zerbi stated during his press engagement. With Wahi having contributed three goals over 13 appearances this season, the urgency to find a suitable replacement is palpable.
Reports indicate negotiations between Marseille and Rennes are already underway. According to L'Équipe, initial discussions involved the inclusion of Ismaël Koné, the Canadian midfielder struggling to establish himself at Marseille post-transfer from Watford. Both clubs have explored this potential player exchange, with Rennes reportedly expressing interest in acquiring Koné, who has found it difficult to meet performance expectations.
Gouiri, who has started 18 matches this season but only scored twice, is considered by Marseille as the solution to their attacking woes. His earlier career included stints at Olympique Lyonnais and OGC Nice before moving to Rennes, where he has tallied over 30 goals and 12 assists across more than 100 appearances. This season, Gouiri also debuted as an international player for Algeria, marking his progress with six caps and one goal.
Should Gouiri's transfer be finalized, he would become the seventh Algerian player to join Marseille, following notable figures such as Djamel Belmadi and Karim Ziani. Given Marseille's sizable Algerian community, his potential arrival could evoke significant local support.
Marseille's strategy appears to concentrate on securing Gouiri on loan, allowing for flexibility as they restructure their squad amid financial and performance challenges. Despite Gouiri's flat statistics at Rennes this season, the club recognizes his potential and history of impactful performances and sees him as capable of improving the team's overall offensive output.
Koné, meanwhile, has faced scrutiny since arriving at Marseille after signing for €12 million last summer. Coach De Zerbi made it clear during his recent media engagements: "It's important we build the strongest possible team. Ismaël hasn't shown he deserves to be part of our future plans, and we need to have players who can rise to the occasion. If he goes, it opens up opportunities for us to strengthen our squad." This hints at the possibility of Koné departing, paving the way for Gouiri’s potential signing.
The negotiations are still at the forefront of Marseille's plans as they navigate through the mid-season transfer window. The desire for substantial reinforcements demonstrates the club's ambition to remain competitive within Ligue 1 and beyond. Paris Saint-Germain has set the benchmark for success, and the pressure is on Marseille to keep pace.
Despite the competitive environment of the winter transfer market, which traditionally presents its own set of challenges, De Zerbi remains optimistic. "We know this is difficult to do mid-season, but we need someone good. We are Marseille, and we expect the best to come through those doors," he asserted. The urgency of the situation increases with every passing day, and negotiations will need to conclude swiftly to integrate any new player effectively before the season intensifies.
Adding to the excitement, Gouiri has publicly stated during recent interviews, "I am focused on the club right now; my priority is training and preparing for upcoming matches." His commitment to Rennes showcases his professionalism even as transition talks continue behind the scenes.
Marseille's ambitions for Gouiri highlight their commitment to reclaiming their status as Ligue 1 title contenders. The coming days are expected to be telling as the club looks to navigate this latest challenge head-on within the notoriously volatile transfer window.