Foot Mercato are reporting that Aston Villa have made signing Olympique de Marseille midfielder Mattéo Gunedouzi (23) their priority, and manager Unai Emery has already spoken to the player to convince him of the move. 

Whilst Aston VIlla have yet to submit a concrete offer, there is a good chance that one will be formulated. According to Foot Mercato, Emery has recently spoken to Guendouzi, who formed part of Didier Deschamps’ France squad that reached the World Cup final in Qatar. There is reportedly a mutual admiration between the pair. 

The Spanish manager has already once attempted to recruit Guendouzi, whose contract with Les Phocéens expires in 2025. In difficulty at Arsenal at the time, Emery tried to bring the midfielder to Villareal. Should an offer of around €30m be submitted for Guendouzi, Marseille would have to think twice about it, even though the club didn’t envisage letting their France international leave this winter. 

Guendouzi is Aston Villa’s priority this January, and if he makes the move, he would be the second French midfielder to make the switch in just two transfer windows after Boubacar Kamara joined the club in the summer. 

According to an official announcement by both Flamengo and Olympique de Marseille, Brazilian attacking midfielder Gerson has rejoined Flamengo. Fabrizio Romano reported several days ago that the attacker signed a deal which would keep him at the Brazilian club until 2026, with Marseille receiving around €20m including add-ons for the transfer.

Click Here: tonga rugby shirts

Gerson moved to Marseille in the summer of 2021 for a reported €25m. During his first season at the Orange Vélodrome, the Brazilian was a mainstay in Marseille’s midfield, racking up 48 appearances in all competitions and scoring 11 goals in the process. However, since the arrival of Igor Tudor at the club, Gerson has not had consistent minutes both in Ligue 1 and Europe. Talks were reported between the Marseille, the player, and his former club Flamengo by sources contacted by Get French Football News in early November.

The Olympians still owed €5m from the original transfer, but with his return to Flamengo now completed the fee will be cancelled and the club will receive a total of €20m.

According to L’Équipe, Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar is close to switching his national team allegiance to Algeria in the next few weeks. Despite claims that the move has been finalised by the head of the Algerian football federation, nothing has yet been agreed between the federation and Aouar – who has already appeared for the France in friendly competition. 

The Algerian football federation announced on national television that “Houssem Aouar has given us his agreement to join the Algerian National Team” via the remarks of Djahid Zefizef on TV 3. The federation boss also revealed that they are “also in discussions with Amine Gouiri, however nothing is decided yet.” 

The player’s entourage however did say that discussions have been initiated but that no agreement has yet been reached – although Aouar reportedly intends to switch nationality to the Fennecs, especially since his prospects in the France team look increasingly unlikely following the 2022 World Cup. 

Click Here: Baltimore Ravens Jersey

Ruslan Malinovskyi will make his home debut for Marseille against Lorient this evening, having been called up for Igor Tudor’s starting XI – it will be the Ukrainian’s first start since joining the club. Malinovskyi joined from Serie A side Atalanta on a loan move with an obligation to buy the player set at €10m with €3m-worth of add-ons to the deal. 

Malinovskyi made a short appearance during Marseille’s win over ESTAC Troyes last week, where he came off the bench as a substitute. Sporting director Pablo Longoria spoke about a long-held interest in the player which originated for the Olympians’ recruiters at around January 2021 – he has ever since been a transfer target for Marseille.

OM reportedly made multiple approaches to the Serie A side for his signature, but persistence paid off as the Ukrainian is set for a home debut at a sold-out Orange Vélodrome to watch their side face Lorient in a vital Ligue 1 clash.

Click Here: cork gaa jerseys

Marseille have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of out-of-favour Brighton attacking midfielder Leandro Trossard (28). L’Equipe are reporting that Les Phocéens were in talks for weeks with the player’s entourage, but Arsenal have hijacked the deal and are now leading the race to for the Belgian’s signing.

Trossard fell out with Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi and was considered a priority signing for OM president Pablo Longoria and OM sporting director Javier Ribalta. Trossard would have been a statement signing for the Ligue 1 second-placed outfit, following Gerson’s exit and Amine Harit’s season-ending knee injury.

L’Equipe are reporting that the Seagulls expect a fee between 20 and €25m for the Belgian international, who scored a hat-trick during Brighton’s frantic away draw against Liverpool earlier in the Premier League season. The player is said to be very keen to play for the Gunners and, according to L’Équipe, Marseille have almost given up hope on his signing.

Click Here: United Kingdom Rugby Shop

L’Équipe report that Paris Saint-Germain remain in talks with Lionel Messi over a contract extension, with several details still to iron out if the World Cup winner is to extend his stay in the French capital past this summer.

His initial contract was for a stay of two years, with an option for an additional campaign that would be mutually triggered – however, the idea is now to sign an entirely new deal. The length of the contract has yet to be worked out, and PSG need to be mindful of Financial Fair Play, having already been hit with a €65m fine following an agreement with UEFA, €10m of which are to be paid now. It remains to be seen whether Messi will be understanding of the situation, especially given that some of the commissions from his 2021 contract have yet to be paid out to his entourage, L’Équipe add.

A meeting is scheduled in the next few weeks between Messi’s father, Jorge, and the PSG management, with the Emir of Qatar intent on keeping the Argentine at the club. Inter Miami are pushing for the former Barcelona man’s signing, but the player himself is reluctant on a move to the MLS, as he wants to carry on with the Argentina national team until the 2024 Copa América, at least. He wants to remain at a top European club and stay competitive, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League goals record notably among his objectves – he is 12 off the Portuguese forward’s tally of 141. In any case, the likelihood as it stands is that Messi will extend his stay in Ligue 1.

Click Here: NRL Telstra Premiership

PSG’s historic home, the Parc des Princes, may welcome 60,000 fans if expansion works were to be carried out, according to a report from L’Equipe. The QSI-owned club and the City of Paris are at a stand-off regarding the future of the stadium – PSG wish to buy the ground to undertake expansion works in order to catch up with their European rivals. With a 47.000+ capacity, the Parc pales in comparison to the likes of Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena or Real Madrid’s Estadio Santiago-Bernabéu. But Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has no intention of selling what she considered “an exceptional piece of heritage for Parisians.”

But there’s a silver lining for PSG. Architectural studies requested by club chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi show that a 60.000-capacity Parc des Princes would be possible without lowering the ground, as the Paris ringroad lies underneath it, or destroying the iconic framework that is listed as an historic Paris landmark. The expansion works would mean a complete renovation from the inside with current stands destroyed and rebuilt closer to the pitch with a different tilt. In this solution, every square metre of the stadium would be taken advantage of, with lower seat comfort and restricted views as possible flaws. PSG and the City of Paris now need to get back to the negociating table to envision where Les Parisiens will play in the foreseeable future. Stade de France manager Pierre Coppey has shown interest in hosting PSG home games if no deal were to be reached between Paris and PSG.

Click Here: Antoine Griezmann jersey sale

Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport reports tonight that Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas’ move to Nottingham Forest is still on and that negotiations are ongoing, although the Costa Rican international does not want to leave the French capital at any price.

The former Real Madrid man has agreed in principle to the move to the Premier League, with the format of the deal yet to be decided between the two clubs – the transfer could be a permanent one or a loan.

The deal appears to be a complex one that could go down to the wire. The triple Champions League winner has been second-choice at PSG since Gianluigi Donnarumma was officially made number one at the start of the season, the two having shared game time equally between them last season. This campaign, the 36-year-old has only appeared in cup games, and looks set to leave the club either today or this summer after a century of appearances in the French capital, winning two Ligue 1 titles along the way.

Click Here: plastic molding company

With both Kylian Mbappé and Neymar absent with injury, it was up to Lionel Messi to lead Paris Saint-Germain back to victory at home. The Argentine did just that, alongside an excellent Achraf Hakimi in a hard-fought win over a fearless Toulouse side who were going into the game unbeaten in 2023.

The team’s injury crisis went from bad to worse early on as Renato Sanches went down with another thigh injury, and was replaced by young defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu while Danilo Pereira moved back up into midfield. It would be a nightmare start to Bitshiabu’s game, though, as the defender gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box – one that was slotted into the bottom corner by the visitors’ mercurial midfielder Branco van den Boomen to open the scoring, after a particularly badly placed wall.

PSG would bounce back, though, as Hakimi found the net with a curled shot from range after cutting inside, the Moroccan and Messi emerging as the hosts’ best performers again. The second half saw the Argentine get on the scoresheet, putting the league leaders ahead with a sweeping finish from the edge of the box.

Although a few chances did come the way of Philippe Montanier’s men – Gianluigi Donnarumma forced into a last-gasp reflex save from close range – there was an air of assuredness that eluded PSG against Reims, that helped them see out the win. It’s an air they’ll look to cling on to ahead of a hectic fixture list this month and an ever-increasing injury list. Marseille and Monaco up next.

PSG player ratings:

Gianluigi Donnarumma, 4 – Some suspect positioning on the free-kick scored by Van de Boomen and some frail showings in Toulouse’s attacks in the first half, but looked altogether more composed in the second.

Achraf Hakimi, 7 – The Moroccan has been PSG’s best player since the World Cup and once again led the way with his tireless work on the right-hand side – he scored the equaliser when the hosts looked to be submerged under Toulouse’s midfield control, and found Messi for the second.

Marquinhos, 5

Danilo Pereira – 6 – Started the match in defense before moving into midfield after Renato Sanches’ injury, doing a largely serviceable job in keeping play moving.

Nuno Mendes, 6

Vitinha, 5

Renato Sanches, n/a – The midfielder went down early on with a thigh injury, replaced by El Chadaille Bitshiabu, the young defender conceding the free-kick that led to the opener before composing himself and putting together a more solid performance for the remainder of the game.

Fabián Ruiz, 5

Carlos Soler, 3 – Despite his best efforts, the Spaniard’s contribution to PSG’s attacking phases is too feeble to make any real impact – this may be a result of positioning issues and isolation, but he was unable to make much of the few balls that came his way. Warren Zaïre-Emery’s introduction, albeit facing tired legs, instantly showed the difference between the two, the young Frenchman constantly breaking through and riding high in confidence after his first senior goal on Wednesday.

Hugo Ekitike, 5 – The young striker impressed with his work rate but was often too far from the penalty area to make a real impact going forward, although his contribution to the pressing effort was invaluable and he linked up well on a few occasions with his attacking partners.

Lionel Messi, 6 – After a somewhat misfiring first half – kept quiet by the omnipresent Stijn Spierings – the Argentine put the hosts ahead with a slick curled shot into the bottom corner and continued to lead the attacks in Kylian Mbappé and Neymar’s absence. Some intricate play on the edge of the box, but his teammates were ostensibly not on the same wavelength when it came to putting together chances.

Toulouse player ratings

Maxime Dupé, 5

Warren Kamanzi, 5

Anthony Rouault, 4

Rasmus Nicolaisen, 5

Moussa Diarra, 4

Brecht Dejaegere, 6

Stijn Spierings, 6 – Impeccable first-half showing to help the visitors dominate the midfield battle early on, ensuring the PSG attack was blunted. His influence waned as PSG grew into the game afterwards, but overall another impressive performance alongside his goalscoring compatriot.

Branco van den Boomen, 6 – Another great free-kick to open the scoring – his sixth goal in the league this season – as the Dutchman was once again the heartbeat of an impressive Toulouse side, that could only come up short today.

Farès Chaïbi, 4

Ado Onaiwu, 5

Zakaria Aboukhlal, 5

Steven Gerrard always knew he would have to face up to the brutal part of being a manager when he took on the Aston Villa job, according to former team-mate Jamie Carragher.

Villa sacked Gerrard in the wake of a 3-0 Premier League defeat at Fulham on Thursday night, and confirmed on Friday morning his backroom staff had also left the club.

Having guided Villa to 14th last season, former Rangers boss Gerrard paid the price for a run of just two Premier League wins from 11 games this term.

It remains to be seen who will next be in the Villa hotseat, with former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino and ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel both likely to be among the contenders.

Click Here: 2021 Soccer Tracksuit

For ex-Liverpool and England midfielder Gerrard, though, it was a harsh lesson in how difficult the transition into a coaching career can prove, no matter your credentials as a player.

“You can always look at the players, but every manager knows when he goes into a job, if the players are not performing at their best, it is the manager who is going to carry the can,” former Reds defender Carragher told Sky Sports News.

“Stevie is well aware of that. I’m sure he will be disappointed with certain performances, from individuals and the team.

“But when you go into management, you know the price on the ticket – and if results are not right or whether the players are letting you down or not performing, it is the manager that carries the can.

“That is always the case and that is the brutal part of football management.”

Gerrard had replaced Dean Smith, who was sacked in November 2021, and will now regroup as he mulls over his next step on the managerial merry-go-round.

“I’m really not sure if Stevie would go back in or wait 12 months. I spoke to him a few days ago about the upcoming games and he’s not daft, he knows the situation,” Carragher said.

“It will be really interesting. That’s not what I have spoken to him about, whether he wants to be a manager for the next 20 years or he will pick certain jobs that will appeal to him.

“I think that is what he has done with his jobs that he has picked. Whether Stevie would drop down to the Championship I am really not sure.”

Villa posted a brief statement also confirming the departure of Gary McAllister, Neil Critchley, Tom Culshaw, Jordan Milsom and Scott Mason.

First-team coach Aaron Danks is set to take charge of the team for Sunday’s match against Brentford at Villa Park.

Villa chief executive Christian Purslow said: “The board has come to this decision following a full evaluation of results and performances over the calendar year.

“We were clear when we appointed Steven that we set an objective of continuous improvement, but that has not been achieved despite everybody’s best efforts and we believe the time is right to make these changes now.

“The process of appointing a new head coach is underway and we will update supporters as soon as possible.”