Marseille Close in on Manchester City’s Jason Denayer Amid Defensive Reinforcements
Olympique de Marseille are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Jason Denayer from Manchester City, as the young Belgian defender faces limited opportunities at the Premier League club following the arrival of Nicolas Otamendi.
With competition stiff at City — including Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala, and Martín Demichelis — the 20-year-old, who is of Congolese descent, is expected to look elsewhere for regular first-team football. According to L’Équipe, Marseille have made Denayer one of their top defensive priorities ahead of the close of the summer transfer window.
Sources suggest that an agreement is already in place between Marseille and Denayer, who is under contract with Manchester City until June 2020. The move has reportedly been approved by Marcelo Bielsa’s successor at OM, adding weight to the possibility of a quick resolution.
Denayer spent last season on loan at Celtic, where he enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, earning accolades such as Scottish Premiership Young Player of the Year. His performances in Glasgow were strong enough for Manchester City to offer him a five-year contract extension earlier this summer, with the promise of future playing time.
However, with the arrival of Otamendi further congesting City’s defensive ranks, Denayer’s path to regular minutes has narrowed significantly. Despite some appearances during City’s pre-season fixtures, competitive opportunities appear limited for the highly rated youngster.
Should the move materialise, Denayer would join a Marseille side looking to rebuild defensively and could play a key role in their plans this season.
