Pablo Longoria has revealed he has informed Duje Caleta-Car and the Croatian’s agent that Marseille will have to sell him without a new contract, amid interest from West Ham United.
Marseille ‘very clear’ West Ham target Duje Caleta-Car will go without new terms
Ligue 1 giants Marseille will have to consider selling Duje Caleta-Car over the final weeks of the transfer window, amid interest from West Ham United, if the Croatian does agree a new contract first, according to Phoceens president Pablo Longoria via quotes by Foot Mercato.
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Caleta-Car is in the final year of his terms at the Stade Velodrome, having never yet signed an extended deal. Marseille awarded the centre-half a five-year contract to join the club in 2018, after agreeing a €19m (£16m) transfer with RB Salzburg for the HNK Sibenik product.
The 23-cap Croatia international has gone on to make 129 appearances with OM – one less than with RB Salzburg – across all competitions, so far. He has also hit the net for five goals and has assisted three efforts for Les Phoceens, but has started this season out of the side.
Igor Tudor omitted Caleta-Car from his matchday plans as Marseille saw in the new Ligue 1 campaign with a 4-1 win over Stade de Reims on Sunday. The 25-year-old also only started in 24 of his 26 French top-flight outings under Jorge Sampaoli last term across 35 matches.
Caleta-Car falling out of favour under Sampaoli in 2021/22 saw West Ham show an interest in a transfer with Marseille. Le10 Sport reported the Irons and London rivals Crystal Palace presented the defender with possible terms to tempt him to the Premier League this year.
Additionally, La Provence note that OM now only value Caleta-Car at €10m (£8.5m), given his contractual situation. And Longoria has reiterated the club’s stance that he will have to go if the defender does not agree to extend his stay at the Stade Velodrome this summer.
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Longoria has revealed Marseille have told Caleta-Car that he will have to be sold, amid the interest West Ham and Crystal Palace have shown, if the Croatian does not pen new terms.
“Olympique de Marseille will not have a player at the end of their contract,” Longoria said. “It is very clear in the club’s policy, and we spoke with the player and his representatives.”
Serie A giants Inter Milan are also showing some interest in signing Caleta-Car this summer to strengthen their San Siro squad. Tuttosport report the Nerazzurri have added the 6 ft 3 enforcer to their shortlist, as club chiefs line up potential replacements for Milan Skriniar.
David Moyes may want to move to beat interest from Inter Milan and see West Ham acquire Caleta-Car from Marseille. The Irons boss has agreed to sell Issa Diop to Fulham for £15m, leaving just Kurt Zouma and the injured Nayef Aguerd, Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson.
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