The French full-back developed through the FC Metz academy before moving to Germany in the summer of 2022. During his time at Hamburg, he gradually established himself as a key member of the squad after initially arriving as backup. Last season proved particularly productive, with the defender making 26 appearances in the Bundesliga, 15 of those as a starter. He adapted to a more attacking role, contributing four assists in the league.

Valencia Make Their Move

Valencia have acted quickly to secure his signature, tabling a formal proposal for the former France Under-20 international. According to L’Équipe, the Spanish club have offered him a contract, though the player has not yet responded to their approach. This delay suggests Mikelbrencis is considering his options carefully before committing to his next destination.

Ligue 1 Interest Remains

OGC Nice are also monitoring the situation closely. The Ligue 1 side hold a firm interest in the Forbach-born defender, though they face practical obstacles in completing a deal. Nice must first trim their current squad before they can register any new signings, which may delay any potential offer.

Earlier in the transfer window, Mikelbrencis was linked with a move to Olympique de Marseille. However, those reports did not result in a concrete agreement, leaving the path clear for Valencia or Nice to secure his services.

Career Crossroads

With seven caps for France’s Under-20 side to his name, Mikelbrencis now faces a significant decision in his career. A move to Valencia would see him test himself in La Liga, while waiting for Nice could offer a return to French football. Either destination would provide the regular first-team football he enjoyed during his final season in Germany.

The coming days are likely to prove decisive as the defender evaluates the terms on offer from Spain against the possibility of alternative proposals.

Jansson joined Nice from Rapid Vienna last summer in a deal worth €10 million, but he failed to make an impact during his debut campaign. He scored only once in 31 appearances across all competitions and did not register an assist, struggling to justify his price tag at the Allianz Riviera. The forward arrived with expectations after his move from Austria, yet he found minutes hard to come by in a competitive attacking lineup.

Outside Pantaloni’s plans

The attacker does not feature in the plans of new manager Olivier Pantaloni, who has taken charge ahead of the new season. With the French club needing to make player sales this summer, Jansson has emerged as an obvious candidate for departure as they look to reshape the squad and balance their finances.

His potential move to England’s second tier comes amid wider interest in Nice players from the Championship. Teammate Kevin Carlos is also attracting strong attention from Preston North End, suggesting the EFL could become a destination for several members of Pantaloni’s squad as the club streamlines its roster ahead of the new campaign.

What happens next

Given his lack of playing time and the manager’s stance, a transfer appears increasingly probable. The unnamed Championship club is expected to formalise their interest shortly, potentially offering Jansson a route back to regular first-team football after a disappointing spell in Ligue 1.

Any departure would likely represent a financial loss for Nice following his underwhelming single season on the Côte d’Azur. The coming days should provide clarity on whether the Swedish forward will secure a swift exit or remain in limbo as Pantaloni finalises his preferred attacking options for the campaign ahead.

The rejections come as Nice attempt to streamline their squad and improve their financial position. The French club are actively seeking to decrease their wage bill and raise transfer funds to reinvest in new signings, with Carlos high on their list of departures despite having signed him just twelve months ago.

Difficult debut season

Carlos arrived at the Allianz Riviera from Swiss club FC Basel last summer in a €6 million deal, but he struggled to adapt to Ligue 1 football. The centre-forward failed to score in 23 league appearances during the campaign, though he did manage two goals in the UEFA Europa League.

This lack of domestic productivity has forced Nice to reconsider their investment, particularly given the player’s significant wages. The club had hoped to recoup a portion of the transfer fee, but Carlos’s refusal to engage with Preston or Samsunspor has complicated their efforts to find a suitable buyer.

Wider squad clear-out

Carlos forms part of a broader exodus planned at Nice. The club are also desperate to offload Terem Moffi, who spent the second half of last season on loan at FC Porto, and Mohamed-Ali Cho, who has attracted interest from local rivals AS Monaco.

For Preston North End, the rejection represents a setback in their search for attacking reinforcements ahead of the new Championship season. The Lancashire club had identified Carlos as a potential target given his European experience and the possibility of securing his services at a reduced price due to Nice’s financial constraints.

However, with Carlos’s entourage having firmly declined their initial approach, Preston must now look elsewhere. Nice face a race against time to find a taker for the striker before the transfer window closes, though his apparent preference for remaining in a top-tier league may limit their options considerably.

Frustrating spell in English football

The 33-year-old joined the Premier League side from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven last summer but endured a frustrating campaign as backup. He managed only eight appearances throughout the season, with a solitary outing in the top flight, despite holding a contract that runs until 2028.

Sources suggest Benitez understood he would play a secondary role upon arriving in London, yet the lack of competitive action has still prompted him to seek an immediate exit. Jean-Pierre Rivere, former co-president of the French club, has stated that Benitez is determined to head back to Nice. The goalkeeper reportedly visited Villa Massena last month, signalling his clear intention to abandon his deal despite its long-term nature.

Diouf future holds the key

Any potential reunion depends heavily on the future of current Nice number one Yehvann Diouf. The Senegal international is currently weighing up his future at the club, and his departure would create the vacancy Benitez seeks.

Benitez appears willing to make significant financial sacrifices to complete the move. He is prepared to take a wage cut and terminate his existing agreement, forgoing the security of his long-term deal to secure regular first-team football back at the Allianz Riviera.

Should Benitez successfully negotiate his release, Crystal Palace would need to assess their goalkeeping depth ahead of the new campaign. The London club relied on him sparingly during his maiden year in English football, but his departure would nonetheless remove an experienced option from their squad and could prompt a search for replacement cover.

• Alexandre Dujeux has officially ended his spell as manager of Angers SCO.
• The French coach asked to leave the Ligue 1 club, triggering the announcement.
• He secured promotion and delivered two successful top-flight survival campaigns.
• Dujeux is now the leading candidate to replace Claude Puel at OGC Nice.
• He departs with a record of 1.31 points per game from 127 matches in charge.

French top-flight side Angers SCO have announced that head coach Alexandre Dujeux has left the club. The decision comes after the manager expressed his desire to move on.

Dujeux took the reins in 2023 and quickly exceeded expectations. He led the club back to Ligue 1 during his first full season in charge. He then guided them to safety in the top division for two straight years, finishing 13th last term and 14th the year before.

His success came despite severe financial limits. The club lost key forward Esteban Lepaul without signing a replacement. Academy graduate Sidiki Chérif stepped up to fill the void, but he was also sold in January.

Across his 127 games on the touchline, Dujeux collected an average of 1.31 points per match. His exit follows strong reports linking him with OGC Nice. According to local outlet Nice-Matin, he is the preferred choice to succeed Claude Puel, whose interim role is not expected to continue.

• OGC Nice is on stand-by as talks with an American buyer speed up
• Sporting director Florian Maurice has left following a poor summer transfer window
• Current owners INEOS are shifting their full attention to Manchester United
• The club will delay all major appointments until 15th June
• Interim manager Claude Puel will not stay on a permanent basis

OGC Nice faces a period of uncertainty as the French club waits for new investment. The Ligue 1 side has frozen all major decisions while negotiations with an American investor gather pace.

This week, the club confirmed that Florian Maurice has stepped down from his role as sporting director. He took responsibility for a disappointing summer transfer window. The club spent heavily on Isak Jansson and Kevin Carlos, but both signings failed to deliver results. Carlos, a centre-forward, did not score a single goal in the league.

The timing of Maurice’s exit creates problems. INEOS, the current owners, want to sell the club. They are now concentrating on Manchester United, where they hold a minority share. Finding a buyer for Nice has become a priority for the British company.

According to French newspaper L’Équipe, discussions with an American purchaser are moving quickly. This explains why the whole club is waiting. The board has not named a replacement for Maurice. Geoffrey Moncada has been linked with the post, but no announcement is expected yet.

The manager position is also unresolved. Claude Puel is currently in charge on a temporary basis, but he will not stay long-term. Alexandre Dujeux has been mentioned as a possible candidate. However, the club will not make any moves until 15th June. They hope to have more clarity about the takeover by that date.

• Dante moves into management with Bayern Munich’s second team after retiring from professional football
• The Brazilian replaces Holger Seitz as head coach of the reserve side
• He ended his playing days at French club OGC Nice before returning to Germany
• Dante previously won the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal with Bayern during his time as a player in 2013

Brazilian defender Dante has returned to FC Bayern Munich to begin his coaching career. The veteran will lead the club’s reserve team after hanging up his boots.

Dante spent the final part of his playing career at OGC Nice in France. Now he takes charge of Bayern Munich II, replacing former boss Holger Seitz at the Säbener Straße training base.

The centre-back wore the Bayern shirt between 2012 and 2015. During that time, he helped the club win the treble. This included the Champions League, the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal.

“I am very excited about this role at my former club,” Dante said. “I want to thank the management for trusting me. Many good young players develop at the Campus. They need to prove themselves in senior football with the reserves.”

He added: “My coaching staff and I want to guide them in this important step. We will try to get them closer to their goal of professional football. I look forward to working with all the players, staff and management.”

Jochen Sauer, Bayern’s director of youth development, explained why the club chose Dante. He first thanked Holger Seitz for his hard work with the second team.

“We held many discussions about the future of our oldest youth team,” Sauer said. “We decided we want a young coach who has played at the highest level.”

Sauer praised Dante’s attitude during his time at Nice. “Dante has experienced almost everything in football. At 42 years old, he was still a role model for teammates at Nice because of his professionalism. He convinced us with this mindset.”

Sauer added: “The fact that he takes his first coaching role at Bayern makes this story even better. He played a big part in our 2013 treble win.”

• OGC Nice have confirmed the exit of Sporting Director Florian Maurice
• The former France striker joined the club from Rennes only in 2024
• His departure follows a troubled season where Nice almost dropped to Ligue 2
• The club missed out on target Grégory Lorenzi to rivals Marseille
• Ex-AC Milan official Geoffrey Moncada is the leading candidate to replace Maurice

French side OGC Nice have officially announced that they have ended their partnership with Sporting Director Florian Maurice. The club released a statement on Monday confirming the move.

Maurice, who earned caps for the French national team as a striker, only arrived at Les Aiglons in 2024. He came to the club from Stade Rennais less than a year ago.

His exit comes after a very difficult season for Nice in Ligue 1. The team fought against relegation for much of the campaign and nearly dropped down to the second division. Fans and experts have heavily criticised the club’s work in the transfer market during this time.

Nice originally wanted Grégory Lorenzi from Stade Brestois to fill the sporting director role. However, Olympique de Marseille stepped in at the last moment and secured his signature instead. Reports suggested that Lorenzi had already reached an agreement with Nice, but the deal collapsed.

Because of this setback, the club must now search for other options. Geoffrey Moncada, who previously served as technical director at AC Milan, appears set to take over the position. He will be responsible for shaping the football strategy at the INEOS-owned club.

• OGC Nice beat AS Saint-Étienne 4-1 on aggregate to retain their Ligue 1 status for next season.
• The decisive match was played behind closed doors at the Allianz Riviera following a previous pitch invasion by home supporters.
• On-loan striker Elye Wahi scored twice in the final ten minutes to seal the victory for the hosts.
• Saint-Étienne will remain in the second tier despite high expectations of an immediate return to the top flight.

OGC Nice have guaranteed their place in France’s top division for the next campaign. They produced a dominant display to defeat AS Saint-Étienne 4-1 in the second leg of the relegation play-off on Friday night. The aggregate score stood at 4-1.

The fixture took place at the Allianz Riviera without any fans in attendance. Nice were forced to play behind closed doors after their supporters stormed the pitch following the previous match two weeks ago. Both clubs entered the tie with enormous pressure to avoid the drop or secure promotion.

The first leg had finished goalless. Neither team managed to register a single shot on target during that cagey encounter in Saint-Étienne. This set up a tense decider on the French Riviera.

The visitors thought they had taken an early lead when Lucas Stassin found the net in the tenth minute. However, the goal was ruled out for offside after the forward diverted Irvin Cardona’s effort past goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf. Saint-Étienne came close again through Stassin, but he could not keep his stretching efforts on target.

Nice grew into the contest after these early scares. Elye Wahi struck the woodwork before half-time, while both Dante and Antoine Mendy went close to breaking the deadlock. The home side controlled possession and created the better chances throughout the second period.

Jonathan Clauss eventually opened the scoring with a well-taken volley. Saint-Étienne responded strongly and won a penalty shortly afterwards. Antoine Mendy was judged to have handled the ball inside the area, and Zuriko Davitashvili calmly converted the spot-kick to level the match.

The final ten minutes proved decisive. Kail Boudache, who has been linked with a transfer away from the club, curled a precise shot into the net to restore Nice’s advantage. His celebration showed both rage and relief. Saint-Étienne pushed forward in search of an equaliser, leaving gaps at the back.

Wahi exploited the space twice in one-on-one situations against goalkeeper Gautier Larsonneur. The striker kept his composure on both occasions to effectively end the contest. His brace came during nine minutes of added time. Wahi will leave Nice when his loan spell expires, making his performance a fitting farewell gift.

The result means Saint-Étienne remain in Ligue 2 despite retaining star assets like Stassin and Davitashvili. The club’s ambitious owners now face a difficult task keeping their most valuable players after failing to achieve immediate promotion. Nice, meanwhile, have narrowly avoided disaster and will compete in Ligue 1 next season.

• Ali Abdi travelled to Tunisia one day before the second leg of the relegation play-off against AS Saint-Étienne
• The play-off dates were moved to accommodate the Coupe de France final, falling outside FIFA’s official international window
• Nice confirmed failed negotiations with the Tunisian Football Federation to retain the defender
• The club defended Abdi against social media abuse, citing urgent World Cup bureaucratic procedures

OGC Nice have publicly backed defender Ali Abdi following his decision to link up with the Tunisia national team ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup. The move means the full-back will miss Friday night’s decisive second leg of the Ligue 1 relegation play-off against AS Saint-Étienne.

The fixture scheduling created significant conflict for the French side. The league moved the two-legged tie to allow Nice to compete in the Coupe de France final against RC Lens. However, this shift placed the matches outside the official FIFA international calendar.

When fixtures fall outside designated FIFA dates, clubs face no obligation to release players for national duty. Nice held urgent discussions with several national associations to retain their stars for the vital relegation battle. Tunisia manager Sabri Lamouchi confirmed that the club attempted to keep Abdi for both legs of the play-off.

Despite these negotiations, Abdi departed for Tunisia one day before Friday’s home leg. Photographs showed him training with his international teammates while his club prepared to face Saint-Étienne without him.

The defender faced heavy criticism online for choosing country over club during such a critical period. However, Nice issued an official statement on Thursday defending their player.

The club confirmed that Abdi played in Tuesday’s first leg in Saint-Étienne. They explained that he needed to complete urgent paperwork and bureaucratic processes required for his World Cup participation.

“Choosing between representing his club colours and answering a World Cup call-up presented a very difficult personal and professional challenge,” the statement read.

Nice also condemned the abuse directed at Abdi on social media platforms. “Given the wave of insults our player has received online, we urge everyone to remain respectful and measured. Both Ali and the club are victims of this unfortunate situation,” the communiqué added.

The case highlights the ongoing tension between club commitments and international fixtures when scheduling conflicts arise outside official windows.