Search the Community

Fernando Morientes & Fabrice Abriel Closing In On Marseille Moves – Report - Goal.com Didier Deschamps' incredible recruitment drive this summer appears poised to continue as OM aim for a couple of free agents. According to a report in L’Equipe, Spanish veteran forward Fernando Morientes could join Olympique de Marseille by Wednesday, with Lorient midfielder Fabrice Abriel also expected to sign with the Provence club this week. The duo will likely complete head coach Didier Deschamps’ sizeable squad at the Stade Velodrome. The Parisian-based paper states that Morientes will pen a one-year deal with les Phoceens on Wednesday, when they squad are due to face Saint-Etienne in a friendly encounter. It is suggested that the contract will include an option for an extra season. Morientes, 33, has professed his desire frequently to join up with ‘DD’ once again, after enjoying a fantastic spell under the World Cup winner with Monaco during season 2003-04, reaching the Champions League final. “Deschamps, Marseille, the Champions League, it couldn’t happen better,” the free agent who was most recently with Valencia is reported to have said. Meanwhile the track for Abriel, an under-rated midfielder who is currently contracted to Breton side Lorient, is expected to move south and east for a fee in the region of €2.5 million. The 30-year-old is expected to sign a three-year deal on Tuesday. Deschamps has been busy in the transfer market this summer, mainly focusing on strengthening his defence. ‘The Water Carrier’s’ most eye-catching captures of the transfer window are midfielders Lucho Gonzalez and Stephane Mbia, though he has also acquired Souleymane Diawara, Edouard Cisse, Cyril Rool, Andrade and Charley Fomen. If Morientes and Abriel both sign, it seems likely that the recruitment drive will come to an end, though a further centre-back could be purchased. Robin Bairner, Goal.com