Bafe tells Marseille he wants to extend stay
BAFETIMBI Gomis has told Marseille he wants to stay with them and leave Swansea City when his loan spell comes to an end this summer, writes Andrew Gwilym.
The French international striker, 31, has scored 18 goals in 29 appearances for the Ligue 1 club this season.
Marseille have paid all of Gomis’ £70,000-a-week wages while he has been in his homeland helping Rudi Garcia’s men to the brink of Europa League qualification.
Marseille have spoken of their own desire to keep Gomis when his loan spell ends and it is thought Swansea are ready to sell a player who frustrated during his two seasons at the Liberty.
Gomis himself has been more reticent but in an appearance on Canal Football Club on Sunday evening, he outlined his desire to seal a permanent move to the Stade Velodrome.
“When you’re happy somewhere, you don’t want it to stop. Do I want to stay? Yes, but I cannot look further than the end of my contract,” he said (via SportWitness).
“I’m only on loan. There are few players who are born in the area and are lucky enough to wear this shirt.
“I don’t feel associated with the long-term future, but I want to carry the first stone of this project. I haven’t spoken with the board, but I have had a few words with the manager.
“He told me he’s counting on me beyond this season, but we never entered in the details.”
Gomis is under contract at the Liberty until the summer of 2018 and head coach Paul Clement had suggested he would be willing to give the former Lyon man a chance to prove himself again in South Wales during pre-season.
“Of course there is a chance of him coming back and having a chance in pre-season, he’s our player,” Clement had said at the end of March.
More Swans: Pages 42&43