OGC Nice manager, Didier Digard, says he will be delighted if they can sign Lorient striker, Terem Moffi, before the end of the January transfer window.

The Nigeria international has been an object of a transfer battle between Nice, Olympique Marseille, West Ham United, Bournemouth, and Southampton with Lorient valuing Moffi at €30m despite signing the 23-year-old for €8m in 2020.

The valuation had been on the high side for the Saints and the Cherries.

Newcastle have had a £20m plus £5m in add-ons rejected by Lorient while Moffi has personally rejected an offer to join Marseille despite a direct plea from Les Phocéens’ president Pablo Longoria.

Lorient have rejected four bids from Nice for the in-form striker who has scored 12 goals in 18 league games this season while the French side have returned with a fifth bid which they hope would be accepted. 

Nice’s next three fixtures will be against Lille, Lens and Marseille. Speaking with the press ahead of their Ligue 1 clash with Lille, Digard says he is not disappointed that Moffi won’t be in the line-up for Les Aiglons but would be happy if the Nigerian joins before the end of the transfer window. 

“No, I’m quite embarrassed to talk about a player who is not in my squad. No, I’m not disappointed. I would be really happy if he joins us, but I can’t be disappointed,” Digard told L’Equipe.

Asked what it meant that the Nigerian preferred a move to Nice and rejected Marseille in the process, Digard said, “Having a smart boy is good.”