Olympique Marseille will not be making the loan deals of Benjamin Pavard and Arthur Vermeeren permanent, as the duo will return to their parent clubs in the summer.
Pavard, a 2018 World Cup winner with France, has had an unsuccessful stint at Marseille, having failed to live up to expectations.
The 30-year-old right back arrived at the club in the summer to bring experience and calm to the OM defence. However, he has brought neither, leaving him disappointed.
Indications have shown that OM do not wish to make the France international’s move permanent at the end of the season.
RMC Sport also reported that his parent club, Inter Milan, was keen to offload him in the summer and succeeded in loaning the Frenchman out to OM.
Although featured prominently under Roberto De Zerbi and now under Habib Beye, but his performances have been below expectations.
OM have an option of activating Pavard’s buy option valued at €15m, and Inter Milan were willing to even lower that option to facilitate the defender’s departure.
From the Look of things, Marseille are still unwilling to do a deal.
He will, therefore, leave the Vélodrome as his future may lie elsewhere.
This means the Ligue 1 giant will be having a busy summer.
They are also in search of a new president and a replacement for sporting director Mehdi Benatia.
Vermeeren, who joined from RB Leipzig, will also exit rather than extend his stay at the Vélodrome.
The 21-year-old Belgian initially impressed under former manager Roberto De Zerbi, but his influence waned as the season progressed.
He has not played the last three games under Beye as he has fallen out of favour.
The Belgian’s last start came against Stade Brestois on 20th February and was removed at half-time in that game as OM lost 2-0.
Marseille will likely not change their heart, and Vermeeren’s €20m buy option will not be triggered at the end of the season.
