Four years after he left for China, Cedric Bakambu is returning to European football. French L’Equipe writes that the Congolese striker has agreed on a two-and-a-half-year deal with Marseille, where he will arrive as a free agent after his contract with Beijing Guoan expired.The respected paper further points out that the deal has not been officially agreed yet, but that only the smallest of details and medical examinations separate Bakambu from his arrival at the Velodrome. The key role in the negotiations with the 30-year-old striker was played by Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli, who met with him in Spain in the previous days and assured him that he really wanted him in his team.Low on goals, high on cash: Newcastle want French youngster to bolster their attackIn the previous weeks, Sampaoli publicly pointed out to his management that the club should be active on the transfer market because he believes that his squad is not wide enough to play on several fronts (Ligue 1, French Cup, UEFA Conference League). Arkadiusz Milik has been dissatisfied in Marseille for a long time, Sampaoli is not counting on him more seriously, so Dimitri Payet played the last few games as the one closest to the opponent’s goalkeepers.Sampaoli needed another option in the attacking line and got a proven striker. In Beijing, Bakambu scored 58 goals in 87 games and recorded additional 21 assists. Back in the day, while playing for Villarreal, he found the back of the net 47 times in 105 games, and he is no stranger to playing in League 1, where he gained his French top-tier experience with Sochaux.Sun, 22.45: (2.45) MARSEILLE (3.20) LILLE (3.25)
