Marseille submit offer for Bayer Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun | OneFootball

Olympique Marseille are interested in a January move for Bayer Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun and have submitted an opening bid worth around €10 million, reports Fabrizio Romano.

The Iranian striker has been linked with an exit after signing for the Bundesliga outfit at the start of the year.

Azmoun has struggled to find his feet at Bay Arena, failing to find the net in 10 appearances this season. He has missed a chunk of games through injury and started only two games.

The 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order, with Adam Hlozek and Florian Wirtz preferred as the first-choice strikers by manager Xabi Alonso.

Marseille are keeping close tabs on Azmoun’s situation and have identified him as a potential target to strengthen their attack.

Les Minots lack depth in the centre-forward position following the departure of Colombian striker Luis Suarez to Almeria on loan and Bamba Dieng to Lorient.

They were also in the race to sign Lorient’s Terem Moffi, who is now reportedly close to agreeing a deal with OGC Nice.

Braga prospect Vitinha was also on OM’s radar, but he is now reportedly heading to Premier League outfit Southampton.

Marseille are looking at a strong cover for Alexis Sanchez, who has been the undisputed centre-forward for Igor Tudor this season.

Azmoun is open to leaving Germany and has reportedly given the green light for his transfer to Marseille.

He earned the nickname Iranian Messi during the early days of his career at Rostov and Rubin Kazan.

Azmoun was also a big hit at Zenit St Petersburg, the club he represented before moving to Leverkusen.

Marseille have completed the transfers of Azzedine Ounahi and Ruslan Malinovskyi in the January transfer window.