La Gazzetta Express report that Marseille are considering a move to raid West Ham in the January window and lure veteran defender Angelo Ogbonna to Ligue 1 – with the Italian’s contract at West Ham due to expire in the summer.
Ogbonna, 34, has returned from a long-term knee injury to play a part for the Hammers this season. He has played 10 times for David Moyes in all competitions, but the majority of his appearances have come in the Conference League.
Indeed, he is far from first choice. Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson, Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer are all probably ahead of Ogbonna in the rankings at this stage. With his contract set to enter the final six months, Ogbonna could leave.
Marseille are interested. There is a need for another left-footed option in defence at the Ligue 1 club, and Ogbonna fits the bill. Marseille can approach him on a free from January 1, but would not be able to get him until the summer.
Marseille may feel, then, that they should consider a cut-price fee for Ogbonna in January – in order to buy him straight away. It would see Ogbonna reunite with his old West Ham teammate Dimitri Payet, who remains at Marseille.
Marseille considering West Ham defender Ogbonna in January
Ogbonna could do with leaving the club. Aguerd is now fit again – and it means the ex-Italy international is Moyes’ fifth-choice centre-back. So, what next? Ogbonna is likely to leave in the summer anyway, so why not in January?
Why not join a club competing towards the top end of the French division? It might be something that tempts the West Ham defender going forward. Or, he prefers to see out his contract at West Ham and then make a decision.
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