According to a report by L’Équipe, Olympique de Marseille have reached an agreement in principle with RC Lens for Elye Wahi (21). The transfer fee is reported to be €25 million with additional bonuses meaning the fee could rise by a further €5 million.
Negotiations between Marseille and Lens had reopened today with the two clubs pushing to complete a transfer. Marseille’s previous bids had fallen far short of Lens’s expectations and had been structured around a paid loan with a purchase option.
However, the new fee will see Marseille pay an upfront cost of €25 million which has allowed for an agreement to be forged between the two sides. This transfer will likely put to bed the pursuits of Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah (25) and Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko (19)
Wahi for his part had been very keen to join Marseille and had already agreed personal terms with the club. The transfer will likely be swift to complete with Marseille desperate to bring in a new number nine before their opening game on Saturday when they travel to Stade Brestois.
However, other outlets such as Foot Mercato suggest some caution and write that an agreement has not yet quite been reached between the two sides, even if talks are progressing well and that a deal is thought to be close to being agreed.