A new English team-mate for Mason Greenwood? Marseille to battle Strasbourg and West Ham for defender available for free following Burnley exit

As per Foot Mercato, Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia and club president Pablo Longoria have identified Egan-Riley as the missing piece in their team's defensive puzzle. However, landing him at Stade Velodrome will be a difficult task amid heightened interest from English and French clubs. His contract will expire at the end of the month and he could pursue a free transfer after earning promotion to the Premier League.

Egan-Riley's progression has been impressive this year, coming on the back of Burnley's promotion to the Premier League. Burnley's defensive duo, Egan-Riley and Maxime Esteve, kept a record-breaking total of 30 clean sheets between them, matching the record previously set by Port Vale in their 1953-54 campaign. With Benatia and Longoria having had their eyes set on the Champions League for a long time, Egan-Riley's addition will bolster Roberto De Zerbi's backline.

A considerable task awaits Marseille if they aim to sign the 22-year-old. The defender has been courted by West Ham and is being heavily scouted and pursued by Strasbourg. Despite this, the door isn't totally shut for Marseille, since Benatia and Longoria have previously demonstrated their capability in attracting talents with their elaborate project. Moreover, the French club doesn't want to be caught off-guard and is also considering other prospects such as Facundo Medina of Lens and Nayef Aguerd of West Ham.

Luis Henrique's departure to Italy has created a tactical gap for head coach De Zerbi. Adrien Rabiot has also shown interest in moving to Italy, having recently held talks with his former coach Massimiliano Allegri. These are just a few of the shortcomings the coach must address in the near future.