OGC Nice sporting director Florian Maurice: ‘It wasn’t a pleasant transfer window.’ | OneFootball

It has been a difficult summer for OGC Nice. Evann Guessand and Marcin Bulka notably left the club over the summer and, limited financially, Le Gym have had to seek budget replacements.

There has also been a difficulty in recruiting priority targets. Ransford Konigsdorffer, for example, was sought after, however, his move from Hamburg fell through after the centre-forward failed his medical. There is also the case of Mahdi Camara, who had agreed to join Nice, whilst an agreement with his club, Stade Brestois, had also been found. However, at the 11th hour, Stade Rennais swooped in, offering terms that Nice could not match.

The club also made attempts to sign AJ Auxerre’s Lassine Sinayoko. However, unhappy with Le Gym’s handling of the deal, Auxerre stopped talks. The Mali international then almost joined RC Lens, before L’AJA shut down talks with them, too.

Nice’s sporting director, Florian Maurice, has now evoked the transfer window. “Honestly, it wasn’t a pleasant transfer window. We’re talking about those deals (Konodsdorffer, Camara, and the failed departure of Jonathan Clauss, subject of discussions with Bayer Leverkusen), but there are others that didn’t get to the end either. You have to bounce back. We can do that,” he told L’Équipe.

On Nice’s dealings overall, he added, “It is very difficult to make an assessment. It was a difficult window, but not just for OGCN. We can speak about it later, even if I’m waiting for better, not just from the signings. We know that, for some players, notably those who have joined from abroad, it can take time. The results aren’t what we’re expecting.”

His comments come amid a difficult start to the season for Nice. Franck Haise’s side have lost two of their first three league games, and were also knocked out of UEFA Champions League qualifying by Benfica at the start of August.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle