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Following the signing of Colombian striker Jhon Duran, Fenerbahce has turned its attention to another attacking reinforcement, targeting OGC Nice forward Evan Guessand.
Head coach Jose Mourinho personally called the 24-year-old player to express his interest, according to Turkish media. During the call, Mourinho reportedly told Guessand, "I want you to play alongside Jhon Duran." The statement is said to have played a key role in influencing the player’s decision.
Guessand, valued at around €25 million ($29.45 million), is said to be open to a move to Türkiye. However, Nice are demanding a €35 million transfer fee, which remains a major obstacle to completing the deal.
The Ivorian forward featured in 42 matches for Nice last season, contributing 13 goals and 10 assists across all competitions. Fenerbahce is reportedly working to lower the asking price and is determined to finalize the transfer.
Evann Ludovic Vidjannagni Guessand, born on July 1, 2001, in Ajaccio, France, is a professional footballer holding both French and Ivorian citizenship. Standing at 1.88 meters, Guessand plays primarily as a center-forward but is also effective as a winger when needed.
He began his football journey at ASPTT Marseille before joining the youth academy of OGC Nice in 2014. Guessand made his professional debut for Nice in 2020. He was then loaned to Swiss side Lausanne-Sport for the 2020–21 season and later to FC Nantes for the 2022–23 campaign.
During his time at Nantes, he made headlines by scoring a last-minute winning goal against Olympiacos in the UEFA Europa League. After representing France at youth levels, Guessand chose to play for the Ivory Coast senior national team in 2024. He scored his first international goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Burundi.
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