Bouna Sarr insists that he want to play Champions League football with Marseille next season amid speculation linking the Frenchman with Everton, West Ham United and Crystal Palace, speaking to La Provence.
The long-serving right-back is onto a good thing at the Stade Velodrome.
With Marseille finishing second behind runaway leaders PSG in 2019/20, Sarr could soon have the infamous Champions League anthem ringing in his ears for the very first time.
And, in Andre Villas-Boas, the former Metz flyer has a coach who loves and trusts him to the nth degree.
Speaking to GFFN in April, ‘AVB’ even suggested that the ‘charasmatic’ Sarr may be rewarded with the captain’s armband at Marseille next season.
So no wonder the Lyon-born 28-year-old is determined to stay with his contract not due to expire until 2022.
“I still have two years left (on my deal),” Sarr explains. “We will have to see how the market will work, if there are opportunities, but I’m not obsessed with leaving.
“For once, we will be playing in the Champions League – I really want to discover that here.
“Besides that, I’m coming to an age where opportunities will become more scarce. I do not think you can force me to leave. I’m happy to be at OM.”
You don’t need us to tell you that neither Everton, West Ham nor Crystal Palace will be playing Champions League football next season.
So why on earth would Sarr throw away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a mid-table or relegation-threatened club on the other side of the Channel?
According to The Mirror (29 March, page 77) reported that Everton were hoping to lure Sarr to Goodison Park for a bargain £8 million, while Palace and the Hammers also been linked.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
