Lille had been left with debts of around €400 million from the previous owner Gérard Lopez (who currently owns FC Girondins de Bordeaux, a team that were recently relegated from the second tier of French football to the fourth due to financial issues). 

Létang’s stewardship has created a club that spends moderately and sells well, while its recent European adventures (last season’s Europa Conference League run to the quarter-finals and this season’s foray into the Champions League) have helped boost finances. 

Lille represent an attractive option in the French market 

All of this has created an attractive club, which the L’Équipe writes has seen buyout interest. The French outlet reports that three parties have sent proposals to Lille to purchase the club, including an English company. However, all three have fallen short of the current valuation of the club. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Ahead of Sunday’s fixture against Montpellier HSC, the former Norwich City academy product was asked about the new England manager Thomas Tuchel. “He’s done great things before and he’s a great manager,” Rowe replied. “If I get called up then I’ll be a very happy guy of course (laughs).” 

Jonathan Rowe: ‘I’ll have to prove and earn that spot.’

Rowe further added, “I’d like to stamp my mark on the national team. When that will be I don’t know, but I’ll have to prove and earn that spot.” The winger will likely be looking towards fellow countryman Angel Gomes (24) whose performances for Lille OSC earned him a call-up to the national team under interim manager Lee Carsley. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

The winger was asked to explain the differences between the French league and the second tier of English football in a press conference held today. “It’s a step up from the Championship,” Rowe stated. “The Championship last season was very difficult. There was a lot of quality and it was unpredictable.” 

He continued, “Here there’s more quality. There are bigger players. And I would say it’s even a bit more physical [in Ligue 1] and a bit more technical. It’s a good way to test yourself and it’s a good challenge.” 

Rowe has impressed during his limited minutes for the Marseille squad. The winger has been an effective presence off the bench for his new club and even won Goal of the Month for September with his last-minute winner against arch-rivals Olympique Lyonnais. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

“He worked very well [over the international break] and he will start on Sunday,” the Marseille head coach stated, “I’m very happy with what he’s done. He’s humble and hard-working, and he’s a very high-level player. We’re very proud to have him with us. He’s one of the players of the calibre of Højbjerg and Greenwood.” 

After missing out on the victory over Olympique Lyonnais, Rabiot made his debut off the bench for the club in the 1-0 loss to RC Strasbourg Alsace before making another substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw with Angers SCO. 

Adrien Rabiot on schedule for first start for Marseille 

It had been expected that De Zerbi would rely more heavily on the midfielder after the international break once Rabiot had more time to train with the squad as he had missed both pre-season and the start of the season due to joining the club in late September. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Mbemba had been training with the reserves following a summer in which Marseille had been keen to part with the Congolese international. The club had placed him in the “loft” as they tried to encourage their defender to find a new team and free themselves of a high-earning contract that was entering its final year. 

After being a key player in the Marseille squad since joining the club from FC Porto in 2022, Mbemba was unimpressed by his new situation. There was a reported argument between him and a member of the backroom staff Ali Zarrak to which the defender was sanctioned.

Chancel Mbemba returns to Marseille training ahead of Montpellier visit

Mbemba received a further sanction after he failed to report to a medical examination when returning from international duty. However, the defender ahead of the game against Montpellier HSC on Sunday evening was part of the club’s training. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

According to a report by Le Parisien, Lucas Hernandez (28) is nearing a return to training. The former Bayern Munich defender suffered a cruciate ligament rupture during the first leg of PSG’s Champions League semi-final clash with Borussia Dortmund last season. 

However, the French outlet writes that PSG believe Hernandez is ahead of his recovery programme and that he could return to training in the next few weeks. There is also optimism within the club that the left-back could play a few minutes before the end of the calendar year. 

Lucas Hernandez provides competition at left-back

This would mean Nuno Mendes (22) would have some true competition on the left side of the back four as Lucas Beraldo’s (20) performances have yet to fully convince the club that he is at a suitable level since joining Les Parisiens last January. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Rowe came off the bench during the Choc des Olympiques to help Marseille take all three points away from their bitter rivals. The Englishman recorded his debut goal for the club (after joining from Norwich City over the summer) with a last-minute winner as he escaped the Lyon defenders and powered a shot past Lucas Perri (26).

Rowe has settled well into the Marseille team with the Englishman content to take his chances from limited minutes. Rowe has yet to start a game for his new club but in each substitute appearance has stated his case for why manager Roberto De Zerbi should trust him further. 

Has Jonathan Rowe done enough to stake his place in the Marseille team? 

In the weekend before the international break, Rowe found the net again with a goal in the 1-1 draw against Angers SCO. The winger was one of the few bright sparks in a disappointing Marseille performance and perhaps did enough to earn his first start in this weekend’s visit to Montpellier HSC. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

The French outlet writes that neither the length of time nor the date when it will be announced has yet been leaked to them, but it is likely to be a two-year contract which could keep the Spanish manager in the capital until the end of the 2026/27 campaign. 

Luis Enrique has been strongly linked with an extension for several months with the former Spain and Barcelona head coach having entered the final year of his contract in the French capital at the start of the current campaign. 

PSG are thought to have been pleased with the direction that the manager has taken the club and believe that he is well-placed to lead the new project that sees the team focus far more on developing younger talent than targeting ready-made stars. 

Luis Enrique to be joined by Luís Campos? 

Le Parisien also notes that the PSG sporting director Luís Campos is considering a two-year extension. The two men are thought to enjoy a complementary relationship with a shared long-term vision even if they do not agree on everything. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

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 new trophy officially replaces what was fondly known as the ‘Hexagoal’ which had been in use since the 2006/07 season. The old trophy had seen seven different champions during its almost two-decade-long era.

However, its time had come to an end with the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) enacting widespread changes to the image of French football. Alongside obtaining a new sponsor in McDonald’s, Ligue 1 also developed a new logo. 

This all represents steps in a plan the LFP has been attempting to enact which looks to change the perception of French football across Europe and shed the criticism of Ligue 1 as a “farmers’ league”,  or as Jérôme Dumois (in charge of the league’s rebrand) stated: “It is a new behaviour to instil a need for change.” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland