Jim Ratcliffe ‘ready to sell any Nice player’ as Man United owner gets ruthless

No Nice player is safe as owner Jim Ratcliffe looks to recoup summer transfer funds.

The Ligue 1 club, who are owned by INEOS, escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth last season by overcoming second-tier outfit Saint-Etienne in the promotion/relegation play-off.

PA

It came just 12 months after Nice qualified for the Champions League play-off round following their fourth-placed Ligue 1 finish.

Nice endured a catastrophic season both on and off the pitch with conflict between the club’s Ultras and playing staff having led to a spiralling campaign.

The Cote d’Azur side must now raise £34million in player sales in a bid to boost their spending this summer, according to French daily L’Equipe.

That has thrown new sporting director Roger Ricort, who started his role on Wednesday, a huge curveball.

Attention will now turn to which players they can offload ahead of the new season.

The report claims that no player on the club’s books is untransferable with the club aiming to tighten the purse strings.

There is ongoing uncertainty at the Allianz Riviera as Ratcliffe looks to sell the club.

Ratcliffe thought he had found a buyer last month but a deal with an American investment group fell through late on.

The British Billionaire has turned his focus on improving Manchester United’s fortunes with Champions League football to look forward to next season.

But the future appears bleak for Nice with serious investment needed to avoid another catastrophic season.

AFP

Les Aiglons do have saleable assets that could provide them with a cash windfall should interested parties front up with offers.

Wantaway Nigerian striker Terem Moffi, who spent the second half of last season on loan at FC Porto, is likely to garner interest from clubs.

Exciting midfielder Sofiane Diop is another that could interest clubs this summer.

Both players are among Nice’s higher earners and will likely be the first names targeted for departures.

Defender Melvin Bard and forward Mohamed Ali-Cho are also options that could generate substantial funds in the event of departure,

Former Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Sanson and Antoine Mendy could also head for pastures new.

Getty

Getty

Nice will need to find a new leader among their ranks following the departure of legendary captain Dante at the end of last season.

The club’s recent fall can be attributed to the fall in Ligue 1 television rights and the sale of key names such as Evann Guessand, Marcin Bulka, Badredine Bouanani and Pablo Rosario who were not adequately replaced.