What if the Valenciennes Club went under the Nordic flag? According to information from The Athletic, Danish group Sport Republic would like to invest in two new football clubs, Goztepe in Turkey and Valenciennes in France.

Founded in December 2021 by Rasmus Ankersson and Heinrich Kraft, the group has already owned 80% of Southampton (Premier League) for a few months. It is backed by funds from Serbian billionaire Dragan Solak.

The aim would be to create a network of professional clubs such as Manchester City’s City Football Group (owners of Troyes in France). Agreements and transfers between European clubs belonging to the same group would make it easier for Southampton to obtain work permits in the United Kingdom, something that has become very difficult since the implementation of Brexit.

The northern club, 16th in Ligue 2 this season, are trying to regain the elite of French football, but are instead fighting to stay in the second division. It is currently not for sale according to its president, Eddie Zedzich, who insisted on denying the sale in April following information from the team.