Following Sunderland’s withdrawal from Jordan Henderson, the English club now turns to Valentin Rongier, captain of the Olympique de Marseille, as Sky Sports points out. The profile of the 29-year-old French midfielder is judged to be more in line with Sunderland’s sporting ambitions, which is being rebuilt. OM, aware of the interest of the English club, would not oppose a departure from Rongier, whose contract ran until 2026. The Marseille club hopes to recover about 10 million euros on a possible transfer, a sum considered just for an experienced player, despite a 2023-2024 season impacted by a knee injury.

The extension of Valentin Rongier’s contract, envisaged at a given time, is now uncertain, mainly because of his wage claims deemed too high by the Marseille management. However, OM’s newly appointed coach, Roberto De Zerbi, particularly appreciated the profile of Rongier and expressed his wish to retain him. In the event of the departure of the former Nantais, Olympique de Marseille plans to recruit a new midfielder to strengthen its field environment and meet the requirements of the championship and European competitions.

Although no official offer has yet been registered by Sunderland, the interest for Valentin Rongier is real and could mark the next weeks of the Marseille summer mercato. Rongier’s departure would pave the way for a younger and promising profile, potentially at a lower cost, as some observers point out. This situation could allow OM to strategically adjust its workforce and meet De Zerbi’s expectations for the coming season.