Marseille’s main man Gignac a January Premier League target

Prolific Marseille frontman this season Andre-Pierre Gignac is being linked away from the Stade Velodrome, possibly to the Premier League in January. Title chances Liverpool (33/1 with Coral) and Arsenal (12/1) are reported destinations, according to his agent.

French forward Gignac, who has 17 caps to his name, has really relished his role in new manager Marcelo Bielsa’s 3-3-3-1 formation, scoring eight times in as many Ligue 1 games this term, firing his side to first place. His performances have undoubtedly attracted suitors, with his agent Christopher Hutteau claiming he is perfect for the Premier League.

“Given the fact that he is not very old (28), he has a real market value,” Hutteau said. “This is a striker with a relatively atypical profile, responsive to the physical challenge, the archetypal player who can succeed at a big club.

“He can play in England; Arsenal or Liverpool, no problem. For me, he is between €12m (£9.5m) and €15m (£11m).”

However, Gignac’s agent may or may not know that both the Gunners and Reds recruited in attack this summer, with Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez moving to the Emirates, and Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert to Anfield. Respective absentees Olivier Giroud and Daniel Sturridge should be back by January anyway, with the latter hoping to fit for Liverpool’s next game.

But that doesn’t mean that the powerful striker wouldn’t suit a club like Tottenham, for instance, and his current form could be a real help to a top 10 top-flight team in England.

Since his move to Marseille from Toulouse in 2010, it is fair to say Gignac has a modest scoring record, but the last two seasons he gained a total of 40 goals in all competitions. But it is under new boss Bielsa (nicknamed ‘El Loco’, or ‘madman’ in English) that he has really thrived, getting half the amount of goals in nearly a quarter of the appearances he played last term in Ligue 1. At this rate he should smash his record of 16 in 35 games.

L’OM currently lead the way in the table, winning each of their last six fixtures, two points ahead of the rest, and the uniquely brilliant Argentine manager would be very sorry to see his main man go mid-season. Marseille are aiming to get their first top-flight title since 2009/10, and snatch it from under the noses of giants PSG, who are five points off them.