OGC Nice: the market update of the week

Like every Sunday, we take stock of the latest news from OGC Nice’s transfer market. This is an opportunity for us to go into detail about the arrival at the club of Nice’s second summer signing: Gautier Hein. In parallel, the Eagles continue to trim their squad.

After Laurent Abergel, OGC Nice finally has their second signing of the summer transfer window! This week, the Eagles confirmed the arrival of Gautier Hein, coming from FC Metz. The transfer is said to have been completed for around 3M€ (bonuses included). Nice’s management had been working on this deal for weeks, Olivier Pantaloni had spoken several times on the phone with the player, and the deal was able to be finalized. To the great delight of the Gym’s new number 7. “Joining OGC Nice is an immense pride. I arrive with great enthusiasm, determined to put my qualities at the service of the team and to give everything to help the group achieve its objectives,” said Hein upon his arrival, on the club’s website.

If the Gym could not finalize the Magri pursuit – the Cameroonian international rejected Nice’s approach for Qatar – the arrival of Gautier Hein strengthens a red and black attacking sector that really needed it. The former player possessed all the desired characteristics: rare versatility (he is capable of playing centrally or on the wing), and an experienced resume with 80 Ligue 1 matches played to his credit.

Just over thirty million left for OGC Nice to save

Unsurprisingly, the Eagles should still separate from several squad members, cost-cutting mode obligatory. The departure of Mohamed-Ali Cho to Hull City for 20M€ seems confirmed. Despite clear potential, the winger never truly managed to establish himself over the long term on the Côte d’Azur (just 7 goals in 92 appearances). Thanks to this good sale, OGC Nice is making progress on its roadmap. There would be just over thirty million left to find to reach the 70M€ in savings set by Ineos at the beginning of the summer.

The Azure club also unblocked a difficult situation: Kevin Carlos will leave OGC Nice. The Spanish striker – who trained this week with the reserves like the two other unwanted players, Terem Moffi and Salis Abdul Samed – will sign with Cagliari, according to Nice-Matin. It would be a loan with a purchase option set at 3.5M€. A percentage on a possible resale was also negotiated by the Eagles.

The trimming operation doesn’t stop there for OGC Nice. Further sales are still expected. Long considered a departure candidate, Sofiane Diop looks set to stay, a year away from the end of his contract. Suitors don’t seem to be queuing up for the Moroccan international. Antoine Mendy and Kojo Peprah Oppong are also attracting interest. Strasbourg is said to have positioned itself to sign the Ghanaian international. An agreement could be reached at around 10M€.