Black Cats target M'Bami
Modeste M'Bami
By The Black Cats
January 6 2009
Modeste M'Bami, a central Midfielder is the target of several Barclay's Premier League clubs, including Sunderland. M'Bami, currently plays for Olympic Marseille and has said he'd love to link up with best mate Djibril Cissé. M'Bami, 26, a Cameroon international, is a defensive midfielder.
The midfielder is also the target of Portsmouth and Blackburn.
So just who exactly is Modeste M'Bami?
M'Bami started his career in his home country by playing for Dynamo Douala but was quickly spotted by foreign clubs. He joined CS Sedan Ardennes during the summer of 2000.
Despite his young age, M'Bami played ten matches in his first season in the French first division and helped his club to finish fifth. He rapidly became a team regular and played 60 matches in the two following seasons.
In 2003, the club was relegated to French second division and M'Bami decided to sign a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain for 5 million euros after his agent Willie McKay halted advanced discussions with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
During his first season with Marseille, M'Bami was associated with another young defensive midfielder, Lorik Cana.
Despite their lack of experience, they played a big part in the club's good season, where Paris Saint-Germain finished second in the French first division and won the French Cup.
The club's 2004-2005 season was less successful, in which M'Bami was struggling with an injury. He then went on a partial loan to FC Barone, but was returned to Paris Saint-Germain shortly after.
The 2005-2006 season saw M'Bami help Paris Saint-Germain to another French Cup title, while the club finished 9th in the league.
In August 2006, after three years at Paris Saint-Germain, M'Bami was transferred to arch-rivals Marseille, signing a 3-year contract, and thus renewing his midfield partnership with Lorik Cana, who had signed for Marseille the season before.
International career
M'Bami showed his talent on the international scene at a very young age. He won the Olympic football games with his country in 2000 in Sydney.
He was also in the team when Cameroon reached the finals of the Confederations Cup in 2003 and was part of the 2004 African Nations Cup team, who finished top of their group in the first round of competition, before failing to secure qualification for the semi-finals.
M'Bami was also in the Cameroonian national football team that disappointingly failed to qualify for the 2006 German World Cup as they finished second in their qualification group behind the Côte d'Ivoire.
Jean-Christophe Thouvenel has declared that M’Bami has been contacted by two Premier League sides, Sunderland and Portsmouth, with Ricky Sbragia's Black Cats believed to be in pole position to obtain his services.
The Cameroon international has been a key player for both Paris Saint Germain and Marseille, and refused to sign a new deal with L’OM in order to start a fresh challenge in a foreign league.
The 26-year-old is under contract until the end of the season with the Velodrome outfit and is expected to be transferred during the transfer window to avoid moving for nothing under the Bosman Ruling.
Thouvenel has confirmed Sunderland’s approach and declared M’Bami moving to The Stadium of Light before the end of the month is a possibility.
Thouvenel told setanta.com: “I can confirm to you that Sunderland are highly interested in signing Modeste. There is another Premier League club that is interested as well, Portsmouth.
“There have been whispers about Blackburn, but now that they have changed managers, it’s over.
“Modeste is good mate with Djibril Cisse so that could accelerate his integration within the team. But you know he doesn’t need anyone to settle in.
“And Cisse is only there on a loan basis and could move clubs next summer.
“Djibril may have realised his team needs a holding midfielder capable of playing in front of the defence to make it more solid.
“Modeste is an autonomous person who left Cameroon at a young age and learnt to be his own man. He is a very quick to adapt anywhere.
“There are three options for him: staying at Marseille until the end of the season and then move on as a free agent, signing a pre-contract with his future club to start a new challenge next June, or moving during the transfer window.
“What I expect to happen is a January move. Basically, Modeste wants to start a new adventure, possibly in England, which is a league he loves.
“Two Russian clubs have approached him as well, including Spartak Moscow, two Turkish sides as well, but England remains his priority.
“He is attracted by the stadiums, the fans, the atmosphere.
“His price will depend on L’OM and on the club that make the offer. Of course, if Real Madrid want him, his price will be different!”
[www.setanta.com]
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Not sure about this one, depends on his price really, Tainio's been doing well as a holding midfielder if Tainio can stay fit I'd rather spend the money on other areas.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:05:19:31:26 by Steve.
Not believing anything til I see Ricky say it's true!
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