Gbamin is now close to joining the Ligue 2 club who currently occupy one of the French second division’s relegation spots. The former Mainz midfielder was keen to return to France and move closer to his family who currently reside in Lille. The 28-year-old was close to joining CSKA Moscow in 2022 but no move ever materialised. 

The Ivorian midfielder will sign with Dunkerque on a contract until the end of the season. He spent last year on loan with Trabzonspor and made 20 appearances. Gbamin’s time at Everton was ravaged by injuries, with the midfielder missing a total of 99 games for club and country during his time on Merseyside. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The Armenian head coach reportedly called the former France international a “crybaby” to which Sakho did not respond too kindly and the altercation unfolded. Following the aftermath of the training ground incident, the 34-year-old has confirmed his departure from MHSC. 

In his statement, Sakho has said that he “declines all responsibility” for the altercation with Michel Der Zakarian and puts the incident down to the reasoning behind “ending his collaboration with Montpellier”. The former Paris Saint-Germain defender thanked the players, who he called his “little brothers”, La Paillade’s sporting director, Bruno Carotti and club president Laurent Nicollin. Sakho’s statement includes no mention of Der Zakarian. The centre-back is now available as a free agent. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

El-Mourabet is on the fringes of the first team. During pre-season, he often trained with the first team and even featured in two pre-season friendlies. However, he has yet to feature in an official match for his hometown club. El-Mourabet, who has received a call-up to Morocco’s U20 side, plays largely for the club’s Groupe Élite team. His performances with this side have attracted interest from Ligue 1 rivals Reims, as well as Eredivisie side FC Utrecht. 

El-Mourabet is currently on a trainee contract with Les Alsaciens, which is set to expire in 2025. The Moroccan youth international is a talented left-footed midfielder who came through the ranks playing for the French youth futsal sides. Since Strasbourg’s takeover from BlueCo, there has been a reticence to sell their brightest prospects. It remains to be seen whether RCSA would be open to a sale in this instance. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Monaco have been forced into the market to sign a left-back after Caio Henrique suffered an ACL injury that could potentially rule him out until the end of the campaign. Ismael Jakobs has replaced the Brazilian in Adi Hütter’s starting XI, however, he will be absent for several weeks when he represents Senegal at AFCON. 

LFP rules stipulate that French teams can make one ‘joker’ signing outside of the January and summer transfer windows in the event of losing a player to injury, as Monaco have. The replacement has to be bought from another French club. 

Monaco now look set to complete the signing of Ouattara, who according to L’Équipe, will join for around €2m. Foot Mercato add that the Franc U20 left-back will sign a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Principality club. Ouattara is already in Monaco ahead of the imminent move. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Ouattara’s move to AS Monaco is on the verge of completion. Having lost Caio Henrique to an ACL injury, which could rule him out until the end of the campaign, Monaco are short of options at left-back. Ismail Jakobs has since filled in and will likely be expected to do so for much of the remainder of the campaign, however, he will be absent for several weeks when he represents Senegal in the AFCON. 

Monaco are permitted to make one ‘joker’ transfer, having lost Henrique to injury. The rule stipulates that in the event of a considerable injury, French clubs can buy one player, on the condition that they are bought from another French club. Les Monégasques now look set to sign France U20 left-back Ouattara. He is already in the Principality ahead of the move. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

New deal for Restes, Toulouse’s revelation this season

Following this rise in status for the young goalkeeper, Toulouse’s management have decided to negotiate a new deal for Restes – having signed professionally for the club in 2021. Les Violets expect the 18-year-old to sign an improved contract in the coming days which will run until 2028. 

Restes broke through after Maxime Dupé (28) left the club to join Anderlecht in Belgium in the summer. The youngster, who rose through Toulouse’s youth ranks, has kept two shutouts so far this season, conceding 13 goals in 900 minutes.

GFFN | George Boxall

Monaco have lacked depth at left-back since Caio Henrique suffered a potentially season-ending ACL injury earlier in the season. At the time of the injury, Adi Hütter said that the club weren’t necessarily looking to go into the market for a replacement, seeking to highlight Ismail Jakobs’ ability to compensate for the absence of the injured Brazilian. 

The option of a ‘joker’ transfer, which allows a French team to buy one player from another French team outside of the transfer window periods, therefore looked unlikely to be explored. However, Foot Mercato are now reporting that Monaco are in advanced discussions to sign Amiens’ France U20 international Ouattara. The left-back would also help compensate for Jakobs’ own absence. He is set to feature for Senegal in this winter’s AFCON. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Paradou are the club responsible for producing internationally recognised Algerian talents like Ramy Bensebaini of Borussia Dortmund and Youcef Atal of Nice. The Algerian first division club are set to command €800k plus bonuses for the 20-year-old. Titraoui has played more than 60 appearances in the Algerian top flight. 

Montpellier could also be forced to reinforce their defence in the January transfer window. Former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has been suspended following a fight with head coach Michel Der Zakarian in training. This suspension is likely to see Montpellier light in central defence until the January transfer window unless they explore options in the joker window which allows French clubs to sign players domestically. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The failure to sell Ekitiké upset higher-ups at the Parc des Princes and the former Reims forward has only seen 9 minutes of action thus far this season. Lille attempted to sign the French U21 international as a joker transfer but the move did not develop into a serious option for the 21-year-old. 

Interest from abroad is more appealing to Ekitiké, according to Foot Mercato. An unnamed English club is reportedly interested in signing the PSG forward and could make a move early in the January transfer window. Ekitiké is targeting playing for France at the 2024 Olympic games and is currently out of favour in the eyes of Thierry Henry while his minutes at the Parc des Princes remain limited making a move the most likely option. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The French U21 international is in high demand with Napoli also reportedly interested in his services. Merlin’s entourage have also been in contact with PSG over a potential transfer. Lyon and Nice were interested in signing the defender in the summer but no move materialised. 

However, the Nantes full-back has his sights on playing for his country at the Olympics in 2024 and that makes any potential transfer in the January window a complicated one. Leipzig are the most advanced club in the pursuit of Merlin having recently discussed the prospects of a move. Nantes asked for €10m in the summer but are likely to increase that price following the Frenchman’s impressive start to the season. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith