LENS, France (AP) — The transfer of Spanish goalkeeper Pau Lopez to Lens has been canceled by the French league club.
Lens said in a statement late Wednesday that Lopez will not join on loan from Marseille as a replacement for Brice Samba, who signed a deal with rival Ligue 1 side Rennes.
Lopez is currently on loan at Girona in La Liga. He completed his medical with Lens and was expected to start training with his new side on Thursday.
“Although a total agreement had been reached between Racing Club de Lens, Olympique de Marseille and Pau Lopez, the arrival of the Spanish international has been canceled,” Lens said.
Lens added Girona informed Marseille of its intention to keep the goalkeeper until Jan. 29.
“A condition that is unacceptable to Racing, who have therefore given up on the deal,” Lens said.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Marseille's goalkeeper Pau Lopez reacts during the Europa League round of 16, second leg, soccer match between Villarreal and Olympique de Marseille in Villarreal, east Spain, on March 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz, File)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — West Ham hired Graham Potter as manager on Thursday, a day after Julen Lopetegui was fired.
Potter has been out of management since he was fired by Chelsea in 2023 after just seven months in the job at Stamford Bridge.
Potter takes over a team that has won only three of its last 11 games and is 14th in the standings — seven points above the relegation zone.
Former Real Madrid and Spain coach Lopetegui paid the price for that poor run when his departure was confirmed on Wednesday — around eight months after he was hired to replace David Moyes.
Potter enjoyed an impressive rise after beginning his coaching career at Ostersunds in Sweden in 2011.
He took over at Swansea in 2018 and by 2022 was in charge of Premier League giant Chelsea after a stint a Brighton.
But his reputation took a hit at Chelsea, which was undergoing a turbulent period following the takeover by U.S. owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital and a spend of $630 million on new signings. He lasted just six months after a run of just seven wins from 22 league games.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
West Ham's manager Julen Lopetegui looks on before the start of the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Liverpool at the London Stadium in London, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
FILE - Chelsea's head coach Graham Potter celebrates at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Chelsea at King Power stadium in Leicester, England, Saturday, March 11, 2023.(AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)
