As the closing of the winter transfer window approaches, set for January 31 at 11 p.m., Olympique de Marseille, 3rd in Ligue 1, is busy and activates its networks abroad to acquire the services of an additional striker likely to be associated with Alexis Sanchez. After the departure of Bamba Dieng in Lorient, the Marseille club, in failure in the Terem Moffi file, set its sights on a player from the Portuguese championship.
According to our information, confirming that of the Portuguese daily Record, OM have made Vitinha, the center forward of Braga, their priority. The 22-year-old has registered seven goals and three assists in 17 league games this season. All competitions combined, his statistics even show 13 achievements and 5 assists in 27 games.
The namesake of the PSG midfield, his real name is Vítor Manuel Carvalho Oliveira, shines this season with his generosity in the effort, very good calls and his efficiency in the last gesture. He therefore inevitably caught the eye of many clubs, since Braga has already rejected two offers around 20 million euros, including one from the Premier League (Newcastle?). Atlético de Madrid have also shown interest.
A person close to the case assures that the Marseille board is ready to pay no less than 20 million euros to recruit him. As a reminder, the release clause present in the contract of the international Espoirs (5 selections, 2 goals) is estimated at 30 million euros. If this clause is lifted, it could then become the second biggest sale in the history of the club behind the 31 M€ which led Francisco Trincão to FC Barcelona in the summer of 2020.
At this time, OM does not seem, however, inclined to pay such a sum to release Vitinha from his four and a half year contract. This winter, Marseille have already recruited midfielders Ruslan Malinvoskyi (Atalanta Bergamo), in order to replace numerically the long absence due to injury of Amine Harit and the Moroccan international from Angers Azzedine Ounahi. In the direction of departures, Luis Suarez and Gerson have already left the club. Pape Gueye will imitate them, his arrival at Sevilla FC, as part of a loan, being taken for granted. He will find Jorge Sampaoli there. Loaned by OM to Getafe since the start of the season, Jordan Amavi will return to Ligue 1 and join Brest, still on loan.