After finishing fifth in Ligue 1 Conforama last season, OGC Nice have already started working on their plans for the summer transfer window - with Patrick Vieira on the bench for a third season.

"Patrick will be our coach next season. It's not up for debate," confirmed Fournier. "We are on the same wavelength, with the same vision of the club and its development."

Concerning departures, Nice have opted not to make any loan moves permanent, meaning that Adam Ounas (Napoli), Moussa Wagué (Barcelona) and Riza Durmisi (Lazio) have all left, while the door has been opened for Nice youth academy star Malang Sarr to attack the next step of his promising career in pastures new.

Keeping Dolberg and Atal

It seems the Ineos-owned club's biggest challenges will be keeping their star players, notably Denmark striker Kasper Dolberg and Algerian wing sensation Youcef Atal, but a buoyant Fournier is clearly not worried.  

"Kasper Dolberg will be there at the restart, as will Youcef Atal," said Fournier emphatically. "There was never any question of their leaving. They're part of our plan."

Meanwhile, negotiations are underway to keep star Argentine goalkeeper Walter Benitez at the club, and Fournier believes that the club's success, charismatic coach and reputation for giving young talent a chance make OGC Nice an alluring proposition for players.

An 'attractive' club

"The club has become attractive," Fournier explained. "The change can also be measured by the fact that before, although we've had some successes with Hatem Ben Arfa, Dalbert and Ricardo Pereira, we couldn't keep them. Now we can. We are no longer a supermarket! And if a player comes and wants to have one good season before moving onto a bigger club, then we move onto our next choice."