Latest news with #EvannGuessand
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brighton target Evann Guessand amid Joao Pedro exit links
Brighton & Hove Albion are showing strong interest in signing OGC Nice attacker Evann Guessand this summer, according to Sky Sport Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri. The Seagulls are seeking fresh attacking talent as interest in Joao Pedro intensifies. Several top clubs, including Chelsea, are monitoring the Brazilian forward ahead of the transfer window. Manager Fabian Hurzeler led Brighton to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League this season. The club aims to enhance their squad and push higher next term. Guessand is seen as a player who could add quality and energy to their attacking options. The 22-year-old bagged 13 goals and 10 assists across all competitions this season. His consistent performances have drawn interest from several European clubs, including in the Bundesliga. Known for his movement, the Ivorian often operates in the right half-space and makes clever runs behind defenders. He uses his pace and clever positioning to create chances and exploit weaknesses in the opposition's backline. Guessand perfectly matches Brighton's player profile, and they have used their advanced scouting data to highlight his value and potential impact at the club. Nice reportedly value the forward at around €25 million, and the Seagulls view him as one of the most efficient and productive young forwards available. If Pedro leaves this summer, Brighton may need to act fast to secure Guessand's services.
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
The ‘new Didier Drogba' being chased by eight Premier League clubs
It was no surprise Paris St-Germain's Achraf Hakimi was named as the best African player in France's Ligue 1. After all the Moroccan is probably the finest right-back in the world. What should gain more attention is who finished second in the Marc-Vivien Foe Award. Meet 23-year-old sensation Evann Guessand. At least eight Premier League clubs, including some of those vying to qualify for the Champions League, have shown interest in buying him. The Ivory Coast international, who has been likened to his hero Didier Drogba, is the second highest-rated forward in French football right now behind PSG's prolific Ousmane Dembélé. Guessand plays for Nice, where he has been spearheading their bid to qualify for the Champions League. The chances are, though, that he will not be there next season. There was strong interest in him in January from the Premier League and that is only expected to intensify dramatically this summer. In fact the scouting department at every Premier League club is aware of Guessand's potential and have discussed him. How highly he is rated has been flagged by their scouts and through the data. The interest from Aston Villa and West Ham United has already been reported but there are at least six other Premier League clubs hovering. There is also competition from half a dozen Bundesliga clubs, but the expectation is that Guessand would prefer a move to England, with a fee of up to €40 million (£33.4 million) being mooted. In today's inflated market it is a deal that appears highly attractive. Along with 22-year-old Hugo Ekitike, the France Under-21 international who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, and Porto's Samu Aghehowa, who is just 21, Guessand is regarded as one of Europe's best young attacking talents. There is also Jonathan David, a little older at 25, who is set to leave Lille when his contract expires at the end of this season – with top Italian clubs Inter Milan or Juventus believed to be the Canada international's most likely destination although, again, there is strong interest from the Premier League. But it is Guessand who is creating the greatest buzz. In fact, Lille had hoped to sign him to replace David, but bigger clubs are now in the bidding. Guessand, who was born in Ajaccio and played for France at youth level before opting to switch to the African nation, is strong and direct and has been likened to Drogba. There is a photograph of the two meeting, four years ago in the Ivorian city of Abidjan, where they had dinner together and they have stayed in touch ever since. In fact Guessand, who started in the Nice academy as a left winger at the age of 13, is described as something of a 'sponge', in terms of his desire to learn and improve. Famously, he would shoot a ball against a wall for hours having heard that it was a routine Dimitar Berbatov used to improve his touch. Drogba has become something of a sounding board for Guessand. 'When you receive advice from a striker as physical as him, you listen,' Guessand said, although scouts have often likened his style to a mix of Drogba and another former Chelsea striker, Nicolas Anelka, as he also prefers to drop deeper to be involved in the play and not just be an out-and-out No 9. In fact he has, with his dynamism and desire to cover the distance, been likened to Villa's Morgan Rogers, who is set to become a key player for England under Thomas Tuchel. There were offers last summer and not least from Francesco Farioli, who left Nice for Ajax and wanted Guessand to join him at the Dutch Eredivisie club, hailing him as a 'fantastic player and an incredible person'. Vincent Kompany, now Bayern Munich's coach, tried to sign him for Anderlecht in 2021 and then, two years later, for Burnley. Kompany is among the coaches who has continued to track Guessand's progress. Despite scoring 12 goals and with nine assists and having been third in the number of minutes played in Ligue 1, Guessand fell out of favour in recent weeks, which may also suggest he is leaving. Even so, last week he was also named the club's player of the season and is undoubtedly Nice's most valuable asset. The club are aware of his ambitions and will not stand in his way if the right offer is made. Coach Franck Haise has left him out but denied it was because he feared the player's attention was elsewhere. 'We know that Evann will be one of the players who is highly sought after… like other French clubs we have to sell to buy this summer,' Haise protested. Guessand was, however, brought back for Nice's final league game of the season on Saturday and played a key role – with a goal and an assist – as they secured a Champions League place by beating Brest. The 'next chapter', according to those who know him, is for Guessand to play abroad and the Premier League is his dream destination. In what is set to be an extremely busy summer for English clubs, Guessand is set to emerge as one of the key transfer targets.
NDTV
18-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Nice Take Champions League Place, Saint-Etienne Relegated In French Season Finale
Nice romped to a six-goal win to secure Champions League qualification on the final night of the French season on Saturday, as Saint-Etienne were condemned to relegation back to the second tier. Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain had already clinched the title while Marseille and Monaco wrapped up qualification for Europe's elite club competition before the Ligue 1 campaign reached its climax. However, one more spot at the continent's top table remained up for grabs on the last day with fourth-placed Nice in pole position to take it if they could hold off the challengers of Lille, Strasbourg and Lyon. The Ineos-owned club made sure of a top-four place by crushing Brest 6-0 on the Cote d'Azur with Gaetan Laborde scoring twice. Ivorian international Evann Guessand put Nice in front with his 12th Ligue 1 goal this season, with Badredine Bouanani later netting a penalty before Terem Moffi and Ali Abdi also hit the target towards the end. Nice will enter next season's Champions League in the third qualifying round in early August and will have to win two two-legged ties to make it to the league stage. Lille finish fifth and go into the Europa League after substitute Chuba Akpom's late penalty secured a 2-1 win at home to Reims, while Strasbourg suffered a dramatic 3-2 loss against Le Havre in a result which created a stunning late twist in the relegation battle. Le Havre needed to win and hope one of Reims or Nantes lost in order to escape the drop zone, and the Normandy side showed remarkable resolve to come from behind twice before snatching victory in extraordinary fashion. Abdoulaye Toure's second penalty of the game, in the ninth minute of stoppage time, propelled Le Havre out of the drop zone and means Reims will go into a play-off against second-tier Metz for the right to play in Ligue 1 next season. Reims will now have to navigate the two legs of that tie either side of next weekend's French Cup final against PSG. Lacazette's 200th Lyon goal Strasbourg's defeat allowed Lyon to climb above them and take sixth place as they beat Angers 2-0 with Alexandre Lacazette scoring twice. The former Arsenal striker's brace allowed him to reach a double-century of goals for his boyhood club as he now prepares to leave Lyon, the club where he made his Ligue 1 debut in 2010. Lyon are guaranteed European football next season and will be in the Europa League if PSG win the French Cup, which would mean Strasbourg go into the Conference League. Saint-Etienne needed a positive result as well as favours from elsewhere in order to avoid being relegated but they slumped to a 3-2 loss at home against Toulouse. Yann Gboho scored what proved to be the winner for Toulouse, as 10-time champions Saint-Etienne make an immediate return to Ligue 2. PSG title party PSG warmed up for their upcoming finals, including the Champions League showdown with Inter Milan in Munich on May 31, by coming from behind to beat Auxerre 3-1 in the capital. Lassine Sinayoko put Auxerre ahead as the visitors threatened to spoil PSG's title party, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice in the second half for the hosts either side of a Marquinhos header. Goncalo Ramos also had a penalty saved. Marseille made sure of finishing second as they beat Rennes 4-2 at the Velodrome with Mason Greenwood scoring twice, including once from the penalty spot, while Adrien Rabiot also grabbed a brace. Greenwood scored 21 goals in his debut Ligue 1 season to finish as the division's joint-top marksman alongside PSG's Ousmane Dembele. Third-placed Monaco slumped to a 4-0 loss at Lens, for whom Neil El Aynaoui netted twice, while Nantes ensured their safety by defeating relegated Montpellier 3-0.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nice take Champions League place, Saint-Etienne relegated in French season finale
Nice romped to a six-goal win to secure Champions League qualification on the final night of the French season on Saturday, as Saint-Etienne were condemned to relegation back to the second tier. Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain had already clinched the title while Marseille and Monaco wrapped up qualification for Europe's elite club competition before the Ligue 1 campaign reached its climax. However, one more spot at the continent's top table remained up for grabs on the last day with fourth-placed Nice in pole position to take it if they could hold off the challenges of Lille, Strasbourg and Lyon. The Ineos-owned club made sure of a top-four place by crushing Brest 6-0 on the Cote d'Azur with Gaetan Laborde scoring twice. Ivorian international Evann Guessand put Nice in front with his 12th Ligue 1 goal this season, with Badredine Bouanani later netting a penalty before Terem Moffi and Ali Abdi also hit the target. Nice will enter next season's Champions League in the third qualifying round in early August and will have to win two two-legged ties to make the league stage. Lille finish fifth and go into the Europa League after substitute Chuba Akpom's late penalty secured a 2-1 win at home to Reims, while Strasbourg suffered a dramatic 3-2 loss against Le Havre in a result which created a stunning late twist in the relegation battle. Le Havre needed to win and hope one of Reims or Nantes lost in order to escape the drop zone, and the Normandy side showed remarkable resolve to come from behind twice before snatching victory in extraordinary fashion. Abdoulaye Toure's second penalty of the game, in the ninth minute of stoppage time, propelled Le Havre out of the drop zone and means Reims will go into a play-off against second-tier Metz for the right to play in Ligue 1 next season. Reims will now have to navigate the two legs of that tie either side of next weekend's French Cup final against PSG. - Lacazette's 200th Lyon goal - Strasbourg's defeat allowed Lyon to climb above them and take sixth place as they beat Angers 2-0 with Alexandre Lacazette scoring twice. The former Arsenal striker's brace saw him reach a double-century of goals for his boyhood club as he now prepares to leave Lyon, the side where he made his Ligue 1 debut in 2010. Rayan Cherki, another of Lyon's standout performers, later indicated that he would be leaving the club. "I am going to remain prudent but I think that was my last game for Lyon," said Cherki. Lyon are guaranteed European football next season and will be in the Europa League if PSG win the French Cup, which would mean Strasbourg go into the Conference League. Saint-Etienne needed a positive result as well as favours from elsewhere in order to avoid being relegated but they slumped to a 3-2 loss at home against Toulouse. Yann Gboho scored what proved to be the winner for Toulouse, as 10-time champions Saint-Etienne make an immediate return to Ligue 2. "I take full responsibility for our relegation," said Saint-Etienne coach Eirik Horneland. "I think we could have done much better with this team but we can be optimistic about the future." - PSG title party - PSG warmed up for their upcoming finals, including the Champions League showdown with Inter Milan in Munich on May 31, by coming from behind to beat Auxerre 3-1. Lassine Sinayoko put Auxerre ahead as the visitors threatened to spoil PSG's title party, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice in the second half for the hosts either side of a Marquinhos header. Goncalo Ramos also had a penalty saved. Marseille made sure of finishing second as they beat Rennes 4-2 at the Velodrome with Mason Greenwood scoring twice, including once from the penalty spot, while Adrien Rabiot also grabbed a brace. Greenwood scored 21 goals in his debut Ligue 1 season to finish as the division's joint-top marksman alongside PSG's Ousmane Dembele. Third-placed Monaco slumped to a 4-0 loss at Lens. Neil El Aynaoui netted twice for Lens, whose coach Will Still later announced his departure from the club. Nantes ensured their safety by defeating relegated Montpellier 3-0. as/iwd
France 24
17-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Nice take Champions League place, Saint-Etienne relegated in French season finale
Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain had already clinched the title while Marseille and Monaco wrapped up qualification for Europe's elite club competition before the Ligue 1 campaign reached its climax. However, one more spot at the continent's top table remained up for grabs on the last day with fourth-placed Nice in pole position to take it if they could hold off the challenges of Lille, Strasbourg and Lyon. The Ineos-owned club made sure of a top-four place by crushing Brest 6-0 on the Cote d'Azur with Gaetan Laborde scoring twice. Ivorian international Evann Guessand put Nice in front with his 12th Ligue 1 goal this season, with Badredine Bouanani later netting a penalty before Terem Moffi and Ali Abdi also hit the target. Nice will enter next season's Champions League in the third qualifying round in early August and will have to win two two-legged ties to make the league stage. Lille finish fifth and go into the Europa League after substitute Chuba Akpom's late penalty secured a 2-1 win at home to Reims, while Strasbourg suffered a dramatic 3-2 loss against Le Havre in a result which created a stunning late twist in the relegation battle. Le Havre needed to win and hope one of Reims or Nantes lost in order to escape the drop zone, and the Normandy side showed remarkable resolve to come from behind twice before snatching victory in extraordinary fashion. Abdoulaye Toure's second penalty of the game, in the ninth minute of stoppage time, propelled Le Havre out of the drop zone and means Reims will go into a play-off against second-tier Metz for the right to play in Ligue 1 next season. Reims will now have to navigate the two legs of that tie either side of next weekend's French Cup final against PSG. Lacazette's 200th Lyon goal Strasbourg's defeat allowed Lyon to climb above them and take sixth place as they beat Angers 2-0 with Alexandre Lacazette scoring twice. The former Arsenal striker's brace saw him reach a double-century of goals for his boyhood club as he now prepares to leave Lyon, the side where he made his Ligue 1 debut in 2010. Rayan Cherki, another of Lyon's standout performers, later indicated that he would be leaving the club. "I am going to remain prudent but I think that was my last game for Lyon," said Cherki. Lyon are guaranteed European football next season and will be in the Europa League if PSG win the French Cup, which would mean Strasbourg go into the Conference League. Saint-Etienne needed a positive result as well as favours from elsewhere in order to avoid being relegated but they slumped to a 3-2 loss at home against Toulouse. Yann Gboho scored what proved to be the winner for Toulouse, as 10-time champions Saint-Etienne make an immediate return to Ligue 2. "I take full responsibility for our relegation," said Saint-Etienne coach Eirik Horneland. "I think we could have done much better with this team but we can be optimistic about the future." PSG title party PSG warmed up for their upcoming finals, including the Champions League showdown with Inter Milan in Munich on May 31, by coming from behind to beat Auxerre 3-1. Lassine Sinayoko put Auxerre ahead as the visitors threatened to spoil PSG's title party, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice in the second half for the hosts either side of a Marquinhos header. Goncalo Ramos also had a penalty saved. Marseille made sure of finishing second as they beat Rennes 4-2 at the Velodrome with Mason Greenwood scoring twice, including once from the penalty spot, while Adrien Rabiot also grabbed a brace. Greenwood scored 21 goals in his debut Ligue 1 season to finish as the division's joint-top marksman alongside PSG's Ousmane Dembele. Third-placed Monaco slumped to a 4-0 loss at Lens. Neil El Aynaoui netted twice for Lens, whose coach Will Still later announced his departure from the club.
