Despite a less successful season than the previous one with Nantes, Matthis Abline remains highly sought-after in Ligue 1. Two clubs in the league are already making moves to try and sign the Nantes forward.
Just like last summer, Matthis Abline (23) is set to be a key figure in the summer transfer window. But a move away seems far more likely this time. With their relegation to Ligue 2, FC Nantes cannot afford to turn down a significant transfer fee.
Especially as several clubs are already making moves to sign the Nantes striker. This is particularly true of Paris FC, which has revived its interest in the Rennes-trained player. Having been rebuffed by Nantes last summer, PFC is set to make another push. The player is even reported to have already spoken with sporting director Marco Neppe, as revealed by the daily newspaper Le Parisien.
Nantes are reportedly asking for €40 million!
But as was the case last year, this deal looks set to be a complex one. Nantes president Waldemar Kita could take a hard line in negotiations and attempt to drive up the price for the most valuable player in his squad. As proof: a few days ago, FCN rejected an offer from Monaco estimated at €15 million (+ €5 million in bonuses).
Despite a less impressive season, Nantes are reportedly still valuing Abline at €40 million. This is an ambitious figure given the striker’s declining statistics: he has scored 6 goals in 32 Ligue 1 matches this season (compared to 9 goals in 36 matches in 2024–2025). A transfer seems likely, but probably for a fee lower than Nantes’ asking price. It now remains to be seen how far his suitors are prepared to go. Last year, Paris FC offered €25m.
Monaco: Pocognoli, down to the wire…
Seventh with one matchday remaining, AS Monaco could miss out on European competition next season. Sébastien Pocognoli, who joined mid-season, could bear the brunt of this.
At the Monaco Grand Prix, the final sequence is the ultimate moment of tension after 78 intense laps. Before the finish line, there is that tricky braking manoeuvre at the Antony Noghès corner and that slight, fast bend – a spot where races can be lost. Sébastien Pocognoli, too, is approaching his final corner in the Principality.
Seventh, two points behind Marseille (6th) with one matchday remaining in the league, AS Monaco can still secure a European place if they win in Strasbourg next Sunday. However, this will not alter the fundamental reality: Monaco’s season has been a failure.
Failing to finish in the top three for only the second time since 2021, having finished sixth in 2023, the principality club has disappointed given its ambitions and squad strength. Having arrived in October to succeed Adi Hütter, Pocognoli is obviously not solely to blame, but he cannot escape responsibility for the outcome.
A fine run, then the collapse.
The Belgian manager has mitigating circumstances. He inherited a team already in poor shape, whose fifth-place finish at the time did little to mask the cracks, between lacklustre performances and a favourable fixture list. At the same time, he had to cope with a spate of injuries, constantly tinkering with his line-ups.
For a while, however, the gamble seemed to be paying off. Between 13 February and 5 April, Monaco racked up seven consecutive wins, including impressive victories over Paris (3-1), Lens (3-2), Lyon (2-1) and Marseille (2-1). It looked set to be a fine end to the season, with the club just one point off the podium on the evening of matchday 28. But this run of form came to an abrupt halt with a heavy defeat against Paris FC (1-4). Since then, ASM have won just one match (against Metz), drawn two (against Auxerre and Toulouse) and lost one (against Lille).
An uncertain future for Pocognoli
Pocognoli, who has been talking about “next year” for months, still sees his future at Monaco. But internally, there is no indication that this view is shared. With a year left on his contract, discussions about his future are set to begin after the final day of the Ligue 1 season, according to L’Equipe.
If owner Dimitri Rybolovlev wants to start a new cycle, the summer offers an ideal window of opportunity. A failure to qualify for European competition – a sporting and financial disaster – could, moreover, hasten the decision. With his back against the wall, in the final stretch, Pocognoli is probably playing for much more than just the end of the season.
Transfer news: PSG well positioned for Alvarez
Paris Saint-Germain have certainly put their sights on Atlético Madrid striker Julian Alvarez for the upcoming summer transfer window. However, the Colchoneros have high expectations if they are to consider letting the Argentine leave.
Will Julian Alvarez be the big story of the summer for Paris Saint-Germain? Despite having a contract with Atlético Madrid until June 2030, the 26-year-old striker is reportedly keen to leave the Colchoneros during the upcoming transfer window.
Having been courted by FC Barcelona and Arsenal for several months, the Argentina international is also on Paris Saint-Germain’s radar.
Atlético want at least €150 million!
According to reports on the programme El Chiringuito, the reigning European champions have already made initial contact with the Madrid club regarding a potential transfer for the former Manchester City striker. Fully aware of the 2022 World Cup winner’s intentions, the Colchoneros have not ruled out his departure.
But the Rojiblancos obviously have no intention of selling him off cheaply and have sent a message to the Parisians: it will take more than €150 million to even consider a deal! A very substantial sum, even for PSG. But the Parisian club’s interest is said to be very serious and is reported to have been confirmed by an initial discussion between Alvarez and PSG manager Luis Enrique.
PSG have certainly ticked his name off their list
For its part, RMC radio is playing down the situation, insisting that the two clubs have not yet begun any negotiations. However, one thing is certain: PSG have indeed ticked Alvarez’s name off their list to bolster their attack for the 2026–2027 season. An appealing idea, but this rather complex prospect remains uncertain for the time being…
