Marseilles (AFP)

After the arrival of two young recruits, Pape Gueye and Leonardo Balerdi, Olympique de Marseille continues its research for two players in a transfer window "in slow motion" and could not materialize the signings until the end of September, club officials said Thursday .

"With the overall health and economic situation, it is a market that is slowing down", detailed Thursday at a press conference the new deputy managing director in charge of football, the Spaniard Pablo Longoria, evoking a transfer window "particular "due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

"The transfer window is not yet active", he added, not releasing any player name in the sight of the French club, nor the names of those that OM could give up.

OM coach André Villas-Boas stressed that he had put on the list of potential recruits both young and experienced players.

"We put various names, various profiles on this list but since they are known and important players, we also have competition to sign them, so it may last a little longer, around September, end September, "he detailed.

According to him, the players at the end of their contract do not rush to sign with new clubs either, a practice that has become common in recent years: "They wait until they have the best options before making their decision".

The technician, however, hopes to complete the composition of the team "as soon as possible" while the Marseille club, second in Ligue 1 last season, will play the Champions League.

The club's first two recruits, Havre defensive midfielder Pape Gueye and Argentinian central defender Leonardo Balerdi, on loan from Dortmund, both aged 21, made their first appearance on Thursday for OM.

Jacques-Henri Eyraud, the president of the club, welcomed the recruitment of the Spaniard Pablo Longoria. With the coach André Villas-Boas, it will be according to him a duo which will help the club "to cross a certain number of stages which one must cross", he underlined.

The 33-year-old Asturian, who replaced Andoni Zubizarreta after his departure in May, will have to coordinate sports policy and develop "trading", by multiplying capital gains on the purchase and resale of players.

OM will play at home in the opening of Ligue 1 against Saint-Étienne on August 21.

© 2020 AFP