Olympique de Marseille have stepped up their attempts to find a new sporting director and have now held talks with former OGC Nice sporting director Julien Fournier, according to a report from Foot Mercato. 

OM are currently mired in crisis and have dropped to seventh in Ligue 1. There is a prospect of them losing out on European football entirely, but, in any case, the chances of a return to the UEFA Champions League are now increasingly slim.

But within this context, Marseille are preparing for the future and are engaged in attempts to name a successor to Medhi Benatia, who will depart at the end of the campaign, as confirmed by owner Frank McCourt. 

Syrianos and former Newcastle United SD Mitchell decline

Paul Mitchell will not replace the Moroccan, Foot Mercato understands, whilst it is thought that Nottingham Forest sporting director George Syrianos, has rejected the role due to a lack of clarity regarding the financial situation at the Ligue 1 club. 

Talks have taken place with Fournier, who is keen on a return to Marseille. He was previously the Secretary General between 2004 and 2009. Those talks went “very well”.