Au rev-Sarr! Coveted France Under-21 international intends to leave Nice
Malang Sarr will leave Nice at the end of the season after turning down a new contract, with Arsenal, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen among the clubs linked.
The France Under-21 international has long been considered a potential future pillar of Les Blues' senior side, such has been his development.
Now 21, centre-back Sarr is already in his fourth full season in Nice's first-team squad, having made the breakthrough in the 2016-17 campaign as a 17-year-old.
After making 35 Ligue 1 appearances last term, Nice managed to hold on to Sarr for the 2019-20 season and he played 19 times in France's top flight prior to the coronavirus pandemic bringing things to a halt.
With the Ligue 1 season now officially over, it appears Sarr has already played his final match for his hometown club, announcing he will not sign a new deal in an encouraging turn of events for many clubs supposedly interested in his services.
How about a couple of gems to start off the holiday season? Malang Sarr’s header, Hicham Boudaoui’s first in @Ligue1_ENG and Pierre Lees-Melou’s beauty...
— OGC Nice (@ogcnice_eng) December 22, 2019
Le Gym‘s goals against @ToulouseFC should be consumed without moderation
pic.twitter.com/FcKk2Zv0Pm
"For the moment, I've made the decision not to extend with Nice," he told Telefoot before Nice's sixth-placed finish was confirmed on Thursday. "We'll see how the season finishes and from then I will take my decision. I would like to finish the season with Nice and then see what is going to happen."
Arsenal, Leverkusen and Leipzig have been mentioned as potential destinations, with the latter reportedly earmarking him as a candidate to replace the seemingly outbound Dayot Upamecano.
And although Sarr stressed he does not have any particular league in mind as a next destination, he appears keen on the Bundesliga.
"I've not got any particular preference, but there are other leagues in Europe that are very attractive, the Bundesliga as an example," he continued.
"It's a league that is growing and really gives young players a chance. You see nice football, it is physical – that's something I really like and I watch those matches a lot.
"I've a many team-mates from the French youth teams who play there and have exploded in Germany, so that gives me a desire to experience that. Spain also has a league I like, and France has very good teams as well.
"For the moment I've not necessarily made the decision, but I am more influenced to make decisions on the sporting project and playing time. If that happens to be in France, then it will be in France – I've no problem with that, but if it has to be abroad, I will go abroad without problem."