As per a report from L’Équipe, it is expected that Arnault will become the majority shareholder of the club, with Red Bull looking to purchase a 15% share. Reports that Red Bull were looking to add Paris FC to their portfolio came just after it was announced that former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp would become the head of global soccer for Red Bull, starting in January 2025.

But should Red Bull purchase a minority share in Paris FC, as expected, is there a chance that Klopp would manage the Paris-based club? President Pierre Ferracci, who is expected to remain in his position post-takeover, evoked the topic during an interview with BFM Business. 

“No, he won’t be the manager. At least, not for now… unless one day we are in the Champions League,” said Ferracci. Competing in the UEFA Champions League is an objective of the club, as outlined in a press release that confirmed takeover talks. 

Paris FC president ‘admires’ Klopp

A press release from Financière Agache, a subsidiary holding company of LMVH who are owned by the Arnault family, confirmed the ambition of the prospective new owners who will look to “gradually” bring both the men’s and women’s teams into the elite of French football and to make both sides regular fixtures in the Champions League.

Given their current position at the top of Ligue 2, the Champions League seems a long way away, however, Paris FC will have considerable means, around €100-200m in resources, invested in the coming years. 

On Klopp, Ferracci added, “We are going to learn what Klopp’s role as global co-ordinator is. He is someone that I admire a lot.” Should the takeover be completed, Klopp will have a role to play at Paris FC, just not from the sidelines… at least in the short and medium term.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Carroll’s decision to leave Ligue 2 side SC Amiens in order to join Bordeaux certainly raised a few eyebrows.  The former England international joined Amiens from Reading the previous summer. However, despite having featured prominently in Ligue 2 last season, he made the choice to go down into the fourth tier to join Bordeaux, who recently went bankrupt, were forced to revoke their professional status, and as a result were kicked out of Ligue 2, despite securing safety last season. 

He has hit the ground running at Bordeaux, netting a brace in each of his first two matches for his new club, helping them towards their first league win since the demotion. In an interview with RMC Sport, Carroll revealed that it was costing him money to play for Bordeaux, without going into details.

The media evoked a salary of €3,500. “No, it’s a lot less than that,” Carroll told L’Équipe. “I won’t tell you the exact figure but to give you an idea, since I moved here, I rent a pretty little house and my salary is less than my rent. If I joined Bordeaux, it clearly wasn’t for the money. I had offers from elsewhere to play in Saudi Arabia, but that didn’t interest me,” added the former England international. An internal source at Bordeaux told L’Équipe that Carroll’s salary is less than €2,500 per month.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The press release notes that the Parisian club “will write a new chapter in its rich history with the Arnault family and Red Bull, which have also entered into negotiations for the acquisition of a minority stake.” This is largely expected after it was first revealed by L’Équipe that Arnault would look to become the majority shareholder of the club (with a 55 to 56% share) with Red Bull aiming to purchase a 15% share. 

Agache also confirms the ambitions of the prospective new owners who will look to “gradually” bring both the men’s and women’s teams into the elite of French football and to make both sides regular fixtures in the Champions League. It is expected that the Paris FC will be provided with a new budget that could see around €100 to €200 million in resources invested into the club over the next few years.

Agache further notes that current owner Pierre Ferracci will be kept on as president as the club and the city of Paris enter a new era.

GFFN | Nick Hartland

The French outlet writes that the PSE had become inevitable since the club were relegated from the second tier of French football (Ligue 2) to the fourth tier (National 2) after they were unable to convince the DNCG of their ability to balance their books. 

Most of those impacted by the cutbacks which will see 97 employees made redundant next month had been notified of their dismissal this week albeit without any words from the management. 

‘Bordeaux have a moral and legal duty’ 

This decision was not unexpected, even if it was still shocking for a workforce where some had spent their whole lives at the club. The local MP, Marie Récalde, expressed her regret to France Bleu at the impact this will have: “Behind a club like the Girondins de Bordeaux, there are dozens of people, families, real fans who have given years and years. It is a real tragedy with serious human consequences.”

Récalde who was elected to office in the most recent elections continued her point by calling on Bordeaux’s owner Gérard Lopez to properly enact his social responsibilities to these employees losing their jobs, “They have a moral and legal duty, the PSE must be conducted in a fair and transparent manner […] The compensation must be adequate because we are not here just to thank people, but also to give them perspective and help them bounce back after this ordeal.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Despite not being able to watch the game, Bordeaux supporters came to the stadium to cheer on their team as they arrived for the match. The fanbase could be heard throughout the game as they chanted and set off smoke bombs creating an atmosphere that seeped into the 5,000-seater stadium.

After the game, Bordeaux manager Bruno Irles was quick to applaud the fans. The former ESTAC Troyes and RWD Molenbeek manager hailed the significance of the moment stating in his post-match comments, “Coming on a Monday evening at 8:30 p.m. to support us without watching the match, there are few clubs that have this chance.”

Irles continued his comments, “I hope that we will be able to welcome them during the next round and that they will be able to support us on the field.” Bordeaux will find out who they are playing in the next round of the competition on the 17th of October when their region of the country (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) is drawn. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Lollichon worked with Cech at Stade Rennais and then at Chelsea. The former Czechia international made on to make nearly 500 appearances for Chelsea, whilst also featuring 139 times for cross-city rivals Arsenal. He then hung up his gloves in 2019, although since retirement, he has kept active by playing ice hockey.

However, his former coach then tried to tempt him out of retirement earlier this year in order to get him to play in Ligue 2 with strugglers Dunkerque. Lollichon detailed the exchange with the former Chelsea, Arsenal and Rennes No.1

“I tried something mad. I sent a message to Petr Cech and proposed that he came to Dunkerque because he is also mad,” began the former Chelsea goalkeeper coach. 

He added, “I offered him a six-month stint so that we could experience something incredible. It would have created an incredible buzz but beyond that, it was the chance to work together again. He responded to me with a smiley (emoji) and then nothing else. It is rare. It meant that he was starting to think about it.”

Lollichon then revealed that Cech rang him the next day and said the following: “Christophe, with my tendons, I won’t be able to.” Ultimately, Dunkerque remained in Ligue 2 without the Czechian’s help.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Carroll joined now-amateur side Bordeaux, currently playing in the fourth division, on a free transfer last month. The club are rebuilding after bankruptcy saw their professional status revoked. Since arriving, he has netted two braces in his first two matches, helping Bordeaux to their first win since the demotion. 

In an interview with RMC Sport, Carroll revealed that he was taking a financial hit in order to play for the club. “To be honest, it’s even costing me money to come and play for Bordeaux but I’m playing football and I am simply happy to be playing football,” said the former England international. 

‘I was just sinking and making bad decisions’ – Carroll

Things haven’t always been this way for Carroll, who throughout his career has been dogged by injury. In an interview with Foot Mercato, the former Newcastle United and Liverpool forward revealed that he particularly struggled at West Ham United. “It was a very difficult period of my life, really,” he began. 

“It was a stressful period for me. I was at the bottom of the hole; everything was dark. It was difficult to get back on my feet. I was just sinking and making bad decisions. It was very hard. You know, as a player, you just want to be on the pitch and playing. But sometimes, you hear stories, people saying ‘Oh he’s always injured’, ‘He should retire’, and unpleasant things like that. At that moment, you’re in the abyss, in your shell and you’re just trying to get out of it because it can be dangerous. Luckily, I managed to get out of it and I had a more positive ending. So now, I just love playing football,” said Carroll.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The arrival of Red Bull and Arnault is set to change the face of football, not only in Paris but in France. The club currently sit top of Ligue 2 following some significant summer investments. Should they earn promotion to the top-flight, the objective won’t merely be on consolidating their place in Ligue 1, but on chasing the European places, and perhaps in time, even challenging Paris Saint-Germain’s supremacy.

In fact, PSG and Paris FC may soon become very close neighbours. According to L’Équipe, president Pierre Ferracci, who is expected to continue in the role until 2027, wants the club to leave their current stadium, Charléty. The idea is that Paris FC would then move to Stade Jean-Bouin, just a mere stone’s throw away from the Parc des Princes. 

This move is now without obstacles. They would have to negotiate with the current inhabitants, rugby side Stade Francais, whilst also replacing the synthetic pitch. “We will talk with everyone. But we need to be able to find a bit of space for Paris FC. Especially in Ligue 1, no?” said Ferracci, confident of pulling off the move. A potential future rival and also a neighbour, PSG and Paris FC look poised to get a little more closely acquainted in the coming months and years.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The former Liverpool striker shocked many when he completed his move to Les Girondins from Amiens in the summer of 2024. Bordeaux had just been demoted to the 4th tier from Ligue 2 due to financial difficulties. However, the English forward did not see this as a deterrence when deciding upon his next club. In fact, Carroll was enticed by the opportunity to play for the club, “I had the opportunity to do it.  I like the idea of ​​this project to go back to Ligue 1 and it’s something I wanted to do… Of course, it’s also a very big club with a huge fan base, and great facilities and it’s something I want to be a part of.”

The 35-year-old is no stranger to finding the back of the net. Whether it be scoring goals on the international level for England or in FA Cup semi-finals for Liverpool, the former England international has scored on the biggest stages. He has continued this theme after scoring 4 goals in his first two matches for Bordeaux albeit on a much smaller stage in the 4th tier. 

Carroll spoke about the transition from playing week-in-week-out in the Premier League to playing his football in the National 2, “Not at all. It’s just football. No matter what level you play at, it’s still football. And it’s something I want to do. A few years ago, when I was out of contract and didn’t have a club, I used to play every week with my friends. We would play 11-a-side games on Thursday nights. And playing football is something I’m going to continue to do as much as I can.”

GFFN | Liam Wraith

For a variety of reasons, there are very few same-city rivalries in Ligue 1. As things stand, the closest geographical rivalry in France’s top flight is between OGC Nice and AS Monaco, who are separated by around 20km. However, that could be about to change. 

Paris FC invested heavily in the summer and that investment has reaped rewards on the pitch with the club currently top of Ligue 2. However, should the expected investment arrive, via Arnault and Red Bull, they can set their sights much higher than simply staving off relegation. 

LFP also welcome Paris FC takeover

The hope, it seems, will be for Paris FC to challenge at the top, and perhaps even challenge the hegemony that Paris Saint-Germain have asserted on the domestic scene in recent years. PSG’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has welcomed the potential competition. 

“It is great news,” began the entourage of Al-Khelaifi, who has a good relationship with Arnault, in an interview with RMC Sport. “It is fantastic for Paris, fantastic for French football. It will bring some competition and healthy competition at the top level in the capital.” RMC Sport added that the LFP are also happy about Paris FC’s touted takeover.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle