Wanted by Roberto de Zerbi, the new OM coach, midfielder Ismaël Koné (Watford) has a profile that recalls two big failures of the 2023 Marseille transfer window.
A player coming from the English D2, that doesn’t bring back good memories for him.ABOUT. Ismaïla Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye, recruited in the summer of 2023 respectively from Watford and Sheffield United, have never given satisfaction on the pitch, or only intermittently.
The failure of the transfer of the two Senegalese internationals has not cooled the Marseille leaders. Here they are again fishing on the Championship side, and Watford, aiming Ismael Kone. The English club and OM have reached an agreement for the midfielder born in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) 22 years ago.
15 million for a virtual unknown?
The Canadian international, currently in the national team to play in the Copa America, has signed with OM for the next five seasons.. The transfer is estimated at 12.5 million euros excluding bonuses, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Isn’t the amount (excluding bonus) a little too high for a D2 player (41 Championship matches last season)? Certainly, Ismaël Koné has 19 caps with Canada but there too the bad memories come to the surface.
Paris too risky, instability assured
OM and its president Pablo Longoria paid out in the end almost 20 million euros for Iliman Ndiaye. This bet has increased the club’s debt a little more, like the other expensive transfers compared to the player’s return: Renan Lodi (20.6M), Ismaïla Sarr (13M).
In the midst of these repeated risk-takings, Everton could provide some relief to OM. The Toffees (Premier League) have been interested in Iliman Ndiaye for several seasons and have made this known again recently. But for OM to recover their investment from last summer seems quite unlikely.
