Andre Villas-Boas is desperate to see Jordan Amavi sign a new contract at Marseille – with Crystal Palace attempting to bring the defender back to England – as he told La Provence.
Three years since he brought an end to a short-lived spell at Aston Villa with a £9 million move to the Stade Velodrome, a return to the Premier League appears to be on the cards for Amavi.
Alongside Philadelphia Union’s Kai Wagner and Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso, the swashbuckling Frenchman is one three left-backs to have been linked with a move to Selhurst Park since the start of November (Mail).
The smart money suggests, then, that Palace are preparing for life after Patrick Van Aanholt, with the Dutch international due to become a free agent next summer.
Amavi has just eight months left on his current deal, although Villas-Boas is hoping that fresh terms can be agreed before it is too late.
“Amavi is one of the players who has improved the most. He has a great frame of mind,” said the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss.
“Pablo (Longoria, Marseille’s director of football) speaks with his entourage for the possibility of him (signing a new contract).
“I hope that it will be done and that there will be an agreement between the two parties. We are counting on him.”
Amavi played a major role as perennial underachievers Marseille qualified for the Champions League for the first time in nearly a decade last term, finishing second in Ligue 1 to boot.
Crystal Palace will be hoping that, as long as a new contract remains elusive, L’OM may be willing to cash in during the January window.
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