With the season fast approaching, Evann Guessand (24), contrary to expectations, is still an OGC Nice player. The Ivory Coast international was heavily touted to depart, however, with less than a week to go until Nice’s first game of the season, he is still at his formative club. 

It isn’t expected to remain that way. Speaking to L’Équipe at the end of July, Nice manager Franck Haise said that it was “90%” certain that Guessand would leave the club before the closure of the window. Neom SC are very interested in the centre-forward, as reported by Nice-Matin, however, the player himself is not overly enthused by a move to Saudi Arabia.

A target for many clubs, including Crystal Palace, who have made contact with Nice to sound out a deal, as per Nice-Matin, Guessand is prioritising a move to the Premier League or the Bundesliga. No club can match Neom’s offer, however, and the situation is starting to frustrate the hierarchy at Nice, who don’t want to have to rebuild their team, with the money earned from the striker’s sale, right at the end of the window.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle