Olympique Marseille president Pablo Longoria is eager to close a deal for Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo.
After last season's successful loan with Cercle Brugge, Ugbo has been in talks with Club Brugge. However, Longoria has now intervened and talks are underway to bring Ugbo to OM before the market shuts.
Via Le 10 Sport, Florian Holsbeek of Walfoot reports: "There is something very important about him that marked me last season, it is that Ugbo plays every game. It might sound weird to say it, but he started and he played 80, 85 minutes, that means he's fit.
"He is a box player, he always hangs out near the goal, I often compare him, all things considered, to Michy Batshuayi. He is not physically as strong, he does not have particularly speed either, but he is always in front of his defender.
"He is always available in the box, he knows where the ball will go, right foot, left foot, head, he always has the right gesture."
Ugbo is preparing to leave Chelsea this summer after an outstanding loan with Cercle Brugge last season.
The centre-forward spent the campaign with Cercle, where he scored 17 goals in 34 games and also produced one assist.
At Chelsea, Ugbo has a contract to 2022, having penned a new deal last year. The 22 year-old is yet to make his first team debut with the Blues. But he has spent time away on-loan with five clubs: Cercle Brugge, Roda JC, Barnsley, Milton Keynes Dons and Scunthorpe United.
- August 23
