Azpilicueta: OM Sporting Director Speaks

About a week back, we had reports of supposed interest in Cesar Azpilicueta's signature amid news his agents were in London to negotiate. A relatively affordable transfer fee of €8-10M was also quoted. Anyway, we had quotes last night from Marseille Sporting Director Jose Aniga speaking about the club's financial situation. Here's what he had to say:

I do not know what a departure there will be because the market is first closed and so when we say that Marseille is 'quiet', I almost want to tell you except Paris the French market is quiet. Everybody has to sell before buying, one is under duress to sell, in any case the shareholder has laid the foundation and we must respect it, sell before you can actually buy and either M'Bia or Azpilicueta, but for now everything is fixed yet nothing has changed.

Fairly straightforward there, Marseille's present financial woes are well noted, and only a while back they were looking to move Loic Remy on to put some funds together and dip into the market. Between M'Bia & Azpilicueta, the latter seems to me OM's best chance at finding a suitable buyer & getting the funds they need - we of course are at the front of that line right now. For M'Bia, I really don't see a deal likely at present, since the only clubs to have shown interest have been Galatasaray, who're seemingly unwilling to meet the asking price, and Anzhi who're yet to bid.

Anigo appears to agree with the point about Azpilicueta, as he also had this to add:

Azpilicueta has the profile to go to a big club. Either there will be a big club or he will remain here. It's hard, for today's clubs have their money.

Well there's that then. It all makes for a rather interesting situation if you ask me. Marseille are certainly likely to sell this transfer window, and Azpilicueta is certainly a possibility. Chelsea certainly are in need of a right back, and Azpilicueta would be an ideal fit in terms of age and ability. It will certainly be one to continue watching as the young fullback captains the Spanish National team at the Olympic games. Hopefully Juan Mata and Oriol Romeu are in his ear...