Olympique Marseille have had their first offer for SC Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu rejected, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports<\/strong>. <\/p>\n Freiburg turned down the French club’s opening bid because it was considered too low, according to German football magazine Kicker, as reported by BuliNews<\/a>. Marseille are now expected to prepare an improved offer for the 24-year-old goalkeeper.<\/p>\n The decision does not mean Freiburg have closed the door on a transfer. The Bundesliga club are willing to sell Atubolu, but they want a fee in the region of \u20ac15m to \u20ac20m.<\/p>\n That price has created a clear test for Marseille. The French club must decide whether to increase its offer or risk losing a goalkeeper who is also attracting interest from clubs in England and Italy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Marseille are not alone in the race. AFC Bournemouth, Napoli and Juventus<\/a> have all been linked with Atubolu. However, the latest report says none of those three clubs had made a formal bid to Freiburg at the time of the Marseille rejection. That gives Marseille a chance to move first with a second offer.<\/p>\n Napoli have already taken serious steps in the race. Earlier reports<\/a> said Atubolu’s representatives travelled to Italy for talks with Napoli and Juventus. Napoli see the goalkeeper as a possible long-term option as they build a squad for domestic and European competition.<\/p>\n Bournemouth provide another route into the Premier League. Atubolu has been linked with several English clubs during the summer, but the English market has not yet produced a deal with Freiburg.<\/p>\n The goalkeeper’s contract situation also adds pressure to the negotiations. His Freiburg deal runs until June 2027. That leaves the German club with a choice to either sell now for a strong fee or keep him for another season and risk entering the final year of his contract.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Atubolu joined the club’s academy in 2015 and moved through the youth teams from the Under-14 level. He later became the first-choice goalkeeper for Freiburg II and helped the team win promotion to the German third tier. Freiburg handed him first-team opportunities before he became their Bundesliga goalkeeper.<\/p>\n Born in Germany to a Nigerian father, Atubolu is eligible to represent the two football-loving nations. He has represented Germany at youth level and was included in Germany’s senior squad last year but he is yet to make his international debut<\/a> for the former world champions. <\/p>\n Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle continues to monitor him, though, as the Malian tactician prepares Nigeria ahead of the 2030 World Cup qualification campaign. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/DUNoMAJWzlBspqewhR8T3hfTJ2I=\/3843x2562\/smart\/filters:format(webp)\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F06%2Fimago1077924618.jpg\")
Soccer Marseille face competition from Bournemouth, Napoli and Juventus<\/h2>\n
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/1poCqYXHmSjP1s1qvNJtBaFM9Ug=\/1024x683\/smart\/filters:format(webp)\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F01%2Fimago1057614345.jpg\")
Soccer A goalkeeper with strong Freiburg roots<\/h2>\n