Olympique de Marseille recruited Jonathan Rowe this week, to give a little more speed and impact to its attacking sector. The young 21-year-old Englishman, loaned for a year with a mandatory purchase option by Norwich, arrived Thursday at noon in Marignane, before going to Marseille to undergo his medical examination and initial his contract. If Rowe had been in OM’s good books for several weeks, it is not certain that he was the first choice of the Marseille club for this winger position.
According to Italian journalist Antonio Parrotto, a specialist on Sassuolo, one of Marseille’s priorities in recent days, Armand Laurienté is taking his employer’s refusal to let him leave for the Canebière very badly. So much so that the former FC Lorient player is now refusing to train with Sassuolo and missed the sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, in the hope that his management will reverse their decision. Apparently, the Neroverdi, owned by the chemical industry giant Mapei, have refused an offer of a paid loan with an obligation to buy of 14 million euros, which is roughly what was accepted by Norwich to release Jonathan Rowe.
OM has moved on
Sassuolo, unwilling to part ways with one of their best players without immediate compensation worthy of the name, would like 20 million euros for the Frenchman. It is unlikely that Marseille, who are more focused on recruiting a central striker to replace Faris Moumbagna, seriously injured with a knee injury, will release this cash for a player playing in this register.
By opting for the arm wrestling match, Armand Laurienté, famous for his thunderous free kicks in Ligue 1 when he played for the Merlus, seems to want to provoke a departure in any case, even if it is not to OM. His case will be followed in the final stages of the transfer window.
