Loïc Badé in OM's sights: a relevant choice for the defense?

Olympique de Marseille is among the clubs interested in Loïc Badé, the solid central defender from FC Sevilla. According to El Chiringuito, Villarreal, Tottenham, Sunderland, and Bournemouth are also in the mix. Badé, valued at 25 million euros by Transfermarkt, had a great season in La Liga. But honestly, is he the signing we need at this exact moment? Let’s break it all down together!

A consistent reinforcement or an accumulation?

Let’s be honest, with the arrivals of Facundo Medina and CJ Egan-Riley, the central defense is starting to get quite crowded. Medina, a left-footer, already seems promised a starting spot on the left side. Badé, on the other hand, is a pure right-footer. Yet, we all know that left-footers in the defensive line aren’t common at OM... Derek Cornelius, the only professional left-footer, clearly isn’t in the staff's plans. Even Laporte or Aguerd were considered to balance things out.

So, we wonder: stacking right-footers, is it the right strategy? Unless the staff has something in mind… Maybe repositioning Balerdi to the left, even though he has never really convinced for a long period in that position. What do you think? Should we take the gamble or still look for the perfect left-footer?

Hierarchy and group management: a future headache?

Currently, between Balerdi, Egan-Riley, and Bamo Meïté (who could leave), competition is going to be fierce in the center. If Badé lands, who steps out of the eleven? We might find ourselves with a real battle for places. And salary-wise, can you imagine the impact on the payroll? A player valued at 25M€ is anything but trivial for the club’s finances, especially if we want to strengthen elsewhere. In your opinion, should the management break the bank or remain cautious? We’re waiting to hear your opinions in the comments!

A case to monitor, but far from a priority

As it stands, nothing is finalized: OM hasn’t made an official offer yet. But we saw this summer, Pablo Longoria knows how to move quickly when he senses a good opportunity. If the Laporte or Aguerd cases fall through, Badé could become a credible option. Sure, it's not entirely consistent with the initial need, but we’re not going to shun a player with so much experience and room for growth either. Can you see him wearing our jersey at the Vélodrome?

Share your analyses, desires, and doubts with us, friends! We’ll keep scouting the transfer market for you and continue debating together the best possible defense for our OM!