Pape Gueye has agreed a move to Marseille on the same day that his agent revealed a triple-your-money offer from Arsenal, according to Le10 Sport.
A 21-year-old midfielder who plays in Ligue 2 with Le Havre, it’s fair to say few on British soil knew much about Gueye a few months ago.
Now, however, everyone is talking about a young man who has found himself at the centre of one of the most bizarre transfer sagas in recent memory.
Watford believe they have tied up a deal to bring Gueye to Vicarage Road, announcing the £25,000-a-week signing via all the official channels.
But, as confusion reigned on both sides of the Channel, the former France U19 international was forced to release a statement clarifying his stance.
He, the statement read, would not be on his way to Hertfordshire after all.
Though it seems that Watford are not the only Premier League club who have been left frustrated as the story rumbles on.
“Arsenal contacted us with a salary three times better (than the one Gueye currently earns at Le Havre). But Pape wants to play in Ligue 1 for two or three years before going abroad, and Marseille is clearly on his shortlist,” his agent tells La Phoceen on Friday.
“They would be a superb club for him.”
According to Le10 Sport, a move to the Stade Velodrome is now progressing at a rate of knots.
Marseille have agreed terms with Gueye and his representatives, with Andre Villas-Boas’s side expected to pay around £4 million to secure his sought-after signature.
This does not mean Gueye will never end up at the Emirates, however. As his agent was at pains to point out, he does want to leave France eventually – just not right now.
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