Football Season Guide

Marseille have undertaken what is undoubtedly the most ambitious close-season rebuild of any club in Ligue 1, perhaps reasoning that now is the best time to strengthen their ranks while those around them are weak. There is no area of the OM squad that has gone untouched as a total of 10 new players have arrived at the club thanks to sporting director Pablo Longoria, who has also been bullish that they do not necessarily need to sell to balance the work they have done. Starting in goal, it is expected that Pau Lopez becomes the No.1 goalkeeper after a long reign for Steve Mandanda in that position. The defence, meanwhile, has seen Leonardo Balerdi signed on a full-time basis, though he has not necessarily convinced fans of his qualities. Instead, more optimism is reserved for loan signing William Saliba and fresh arrival from Brazil Luan Perez. Right-back Pol Lirola has gone back to Fiorentina – though Marseille are keen he returns – leaving OM short in the full-back areas, with Jordan Amavi their only natural presently. Quality has been added in the midfield with Matteo Guendouzi and Gerson, while there was already a degree of ability in that area, with Boubacar Kamara, Pape Gueye and Valentin Rongier on the books. Meanwhile, there is a plethora of attacking talent, with Marseille thus far having managed to retain Arkadiusz Milik, whose influence in the second half of last season was tremendous. Aside from the Pole, they only have Dario Benedetto as a senior centre forward, though. There is, therefore, some weakness there. With Konrad de la Fuente arriving from Barcelona and Cengiz Under joining from Roma, OM have apparently upgraded on the flanks, where Florian Thauvin was disappointing last season. This is a side with both strength and depth, and with Jorge Sampaoli in charge there should be no lack of passion.