€40m player exodus looms for Nice as INEOS ownership stalls

OGC Nice, owned by INEOS, will need to generate €40 million from player sales this summer after a disastrous campaign that nearly saw them relegated to Ligue 2, according to L’Équipe. With newly appointed sporting director Roger Ricort at the helm, the club has declared that no player is considered untouchable.

A L’Équipe report authored by Luke Entwistle noted that a deal for INEOS to sell OGC Nice to American investors collapsed at the final hour last month. With the club still on the market and investment limited, Nice are navigating a period of austerity.

The only confirmed incoming is midfielder Laurent Abergel, who arrived on a free transfer. Ricort, however, will be more concerned with offloading players to meet the €40 million target.

Among the squad, the club is especially eager to move Terem Moffi, whose salary is among the highest. Sofiane Diop is also on the shortlist for departure for the same financial reasons.

Hicham Boudaoui, Melvin Bard and Mohamed Ali‑Cho are expected to command fees north of €10 million each. All three are therefore likely candidates for the summer exit list.

The list also includes Morgan Sanson, Kojo Peprah Oppong and Antoine Mendy, who could also be persuaded to leave the Allianz Riviera. Their departures would further help Nice reach the required cash inflow.

Should Nice succeed in raising the €40 million through these sales, the club will retain the ability to invest in new talent this summer. If the target falls short, the financial constraints imposed by the ownership uncertainty are likely to limit any further spending.