Franse club Marseille drops Memphis Depay chase over salary

The Franse top club Olympique Marseille identified a striking gap in its attack and turned to free‑agent Memphis Depay, the all‑time top scorer of the Oranje, as a low‑cost solution for the upcoming transfer summer. However, negotiations quickly stalled when the player's salary expectations proved beyond the club's modest budget.

Marseille entered the transfer summer with limited financial resources, which has already prevented the club from registering any new summer signings. The French side has only exercised purchase options from the previous season.

The club also saw the departure of several attackers, including Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, Mason Greenwood and last season’s loanee Ethan Nwaneri. Their exits left a noticeable void in the forward line, prompting the search for a versatile striker.

Depay’s contract with Brazilian side Corinthians expires at the end of July, meaning he would be available on a free transfer. Foot Mercato reported that the Oranje international could therefore join Marseille at virtually no cost.

Marseille reached out to the Dutchman’s representatives, but negotiations fell short when the salary demands proved too high for the club’s budget. Met the club’s modest wage structure, the terms could not be reconciled.

Consequently, the French top club has abandoned the pursuit of Memphis Depay. The expectation is that Marseille will now turn its attention to other potential signings rather than revisiting the World Cup‑winner.