Wanting to go to England or Germany, offer in Saudi Arabia: we explain why Evann Guessand's departure from OGC Nice is struggling to materialize

Neom, a monster, has emerged from the desert. Ambitious and without financial constraints, the newly promoted Saudi Arabian side has entered the French spotlight this summer transfer window, with millions of euros spent.

With Nathan Zézé (Nantes, 20M) and Simon Bouabré (AS Monaco, 10M), Christophe Galtier's club has already spent 90 million euros. And after Marcin Bulka, another Aiglon is in the sights of the Gulf leaders: Evann Guessand.

Nice's management valued last season's top scorer (12 goals in Ligue 1) at €30 million, a sum that obviously didn't dampen the enthusiasm of a suitor who invested half to buy out the final year of Bulka's contract. But like his former Polish goalkeeper, the 24-year-old striker isn't keen on the idea of joining the Saudi Arabian league.

A decision that has, once again, irritated the decision-makers in Nice, especially since they had committed to looking into the case of Mostafa Mohamed, a profile proposed by the intermediaries of the deal that was to send Guessand into the desert.

Germany or England remain his priorities

A few days before the training camp in Austria, discussions were tense in the offices of the training center between the staff and the entourage of the Ajaccio native.

Unlike Bulka, who no longer had an advisor to defend his sporting interests, Guessand has no intention of reluctantly giving in to pressure that would make him guilty of scuppering the most lucrative offer for OGC Nice.

Because in reality, it's a reality: no club in Europe will be willing to pay as much and as quickly as Neom to sign the Ivorian international.

With a contract until 2028 with his former club, Evann Guessand is more interested in exploring England or Germany. Discussions have been initiated with several clubs in these leagues, including Crystal Palace, but no concrete offers have been made to OGC Nice yet.

This does not mean that it will not arrive before the deadline of this summer transfer window, that is September ^1st . A gamble that Jérémie Boga, another attacking player in the process of leaving who refused the destination offered by his management (Trabzonspor), also wishes to take.

The Gym could find itself financially in the final hours of a transfer market where French clubs have mainly sought to sell, but this timing would not help Franck Haise's business on the other hand.

The coach naturally needs to plan for the next matches as quickly as possible with the boys committed for the long term, without fear of injury which could compromise the hoped-for transfer, and without mentioning the adaptation phase necessary for the recruits.

"Evann, as long as he's there, with the right attitude, he will be a help to the team," Haise acknowledged after his start in the last preparation match.

Franck Haise should leave him on the bench against Benfica

While he tempers the idea that this could also be the case against Benfica. "He also started this match (against Sheffield) because Isaac (Jansson) needed a bit of management with his adductors according to the performance center."

The Swedish recruit could then send last season's best Nice player back to the bench if they return to full form by Wednesday, with Moffi and Bouanani also in the starting eleven. Without Gaëtan Laborde (sold to Al-Diraiyah) or Evann Guessand, this is a duo with 24 goals from last season that would leave Franck Haise without for the Champions League preliminary round. Not exactly the best possible start.