Middlesbrough were in the market for a left-back on the back of Alex Bangura’s Achilles injury sustained in preseason. “We’re really pleased to bring Neto in,” Boro head coach Michael Carrick said. “He’s got good experience, he’s a good character, and he’s a very good addition to our squad.” Borges has put pen to paper over a three-year deal with Boro and will wear the #30 jersey with the EFL Championship side.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Cham scored eight goals and registered four assists in 33 Ligue 1 games last season, however, his contribution wasn’t enough to keep Clermont Foot in the top flight. With the club relegated back to the second tier, Clermont are understandably open to listening to offers for the Austria international. Perhaps surprisingly, he hasn’t garnered significant interest this summer, although clubs in Turkey have remained attentive to his situation. 

Without having featured for Clermont Foot this season, Cham now looks on the verge of a departure. According to L’Équipe, he is set to complete a move to Trabzonspor, with Clermont Foot expected to receive a fee of around  €5m, including bonuses. Videos online have shown the striker already training with the Turkish club, although as of now, the deal has not been officialised by either club. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Considering Borges’ contract with Clermont runs until 2025, the Brazilian is expected to sign a permanent deal with Middlesbrough. Boro were in the market for a left-back on the back of Alex Bangura’s Achilles injury sustained in preseason. Neto Borges was not part of the Clermont squad that won 1-0 at Troyes this Friday for Ligue 2’s second matchday.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Nantes and Burnley are in a similar situation this summer, with both clubs actively looking for a new goalkeeper. While Arijanet Muric (25) has already left The Clarets for Ipswich, Nantes are anticipating Alban Lafont’s (25) departure, as the French goalkeeper will be allowed to leave should a suitor show interest. A Senegalese international since 2023, Diaw is ageing like fine wine and is enjoying a solid second part of his career since joining Clermont from Lausanne in 2022. After two seasons with the Auvergne side, he could now be looking for a new challenge after the club’s relegation to Ligue 2. 

According to Ouest France, Nantes have submitted a second offer for the 31 year-old goalkeeper. After the opening bid of €2M being rejected one month ago, Les Canaris have now submitted a loan offer with a buy option of €1M. Diaw’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026. 

GFFN l Grégoire Devaux 

“It’s not a real topic,” stated OGC Nice president emphatically, shutting down any notion that the Ligue 1 club won’t be able to participate in next season’s UEFA Europa League.

Given the club’s ownership situation, Nice’s participation in next season’s Europa League had been called into question, despite a fifth-place finish in Ligue 1 last season. With fellow INEOS-owned club Manchester United qualifying for the same competition after beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final, changes had to be made in order to satisfy UEFA and comply with their regulations on multi-club ownership.

Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère stated in May that “adjustments” would had to be made in order to allow the club to compete in the competition. Those “adjustments” have been worked on and the Ligue 1 club are now waiting the green light from UEFA.

“We will play in the Europa League,” began Rivère, in a press conference, attended by Get French Football News. “It requires some legal adjustments but we are working on it. We have a budget and what we need to work. There is a legal separation and we have already taken it into account and applied it. We are awaiting UEFA’s official response next week but we’re confident.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Diaw, despite Clermont Foot’s relegation to Ligue 2, had another strong season in goal and it is expected that he won’t make the drop to France’s second tier. The Senegal international (two caps) is already garnering attention, notably from Nantes, who narrowly avoided relegation themselves. 

The goalkeeper is valued at around €2m by Clermont, a very reasonable sum for an international-level goalkeeper. Les Canaris have already submitted Diaw a contract offer, which for now has been refused. He expects a higher off from the Breton club. 

Nantes may face strong competition, not only domestically in the form of RC Lens, but also internationally. L’Équipe understands that Burnley are interested and have even submitted an offer to Clermont Foot. A Serie A side, as well as Saudi clubs, are also interested. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Sakho has been a free agent ever since leaving Ligue 1 side Montpellier HSC back in November 2023. His departure from the club came in the wake of an incident at Montpellier’s training ground where he found himself in an altercation with manager Michel Der Zakarian. 

The Frenchman was reportedly reacting to a comment made by his manager, which he did not take kindly to. Since seeing his contract terminated with La Paillade, Sakho has been on the search for a new club. RMC Sport understands that he is now set to join Georgian top-flight side Torpedo Kutaisi. The publication adds that the former France international is set to sign a one-year deal with the club with the option of extending his stay for a further year. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Kandil, who came through the ranks at Strasbourg, is approaching the final year of his contract at the Alsace club. After a promising loan spell at Annecy, where he needed four goals and registered seven assists in Ligue 2, the Franco-Moroccan midfielder may have options in the upcoming transfer window. 

L’Équipe understands that numerous clubs could be ready to profit from Kandil’s precarious contractual situation with Les Alsaciens and make a move. Clermont Foot, who will play their football in the second tier of French football after their relegation from Ligue 1, are considering an offer as they look to reconstruct their attacking sector with Austrian international Muhammed Cham expected to leave. He is attracting interest from Turkey and the MLS. Kandil is also attracting notable interest from EFL Championship side QPR.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Ketia, bought from Olympique Lyonnais last summer, impressed in his debut season at Clermont, making 27 appearances and scoring once, in a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain in April. However, the young Malian midfielder could not prevent Les Auvergnats from dropping down to Ligue 2. Whilst he is still under contract with Clermont until 2027, it is expected that he will leave the club this summer. 

His destination had already been determined. Keita’s performances had impressed Lens manager Franck Haise and CEO Arnaud Pouille, however, both have now left the club. Their departures, as well as the new regime of austerity brought in by owner Joseph Oughourlian, have now put pay to Keita’s chances of joining the club, according to L’Équipe. The Malian will no longer make the €3m move to Lens this summer, however, he is still expected to leave Clermont this summer, he just won’t be turning up at the Stade Bollaert. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Cham netted eight goals and registered four assists for Les Auvergnats but could not prevent his side from making the drop to the second division after three years in the elite of French football. His performances allude to a move away from the club this summer, with multiple clubs already making enquiries about the Austrian international. 

Foot Mercato understands that, so far, three clubs have made enquiries: Trabzonspor, Adana Demirspor and Charlotte FC. However, it is expected that more clubs will show an interest as the summer progresses. Even though Clermont Foot have been relegated, they will still be looking to garner a considerable fee for the 23-year-old, whose contract runs until the summer of 2026. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle