Olympique Marseille are set to send Eric Bailly back to parent club Manchester United.
The Ivory Coast defender is currently on-loan at OM.
But La Provence says the loan deal includes an 8.4million obligation to buy clause, which will be triggered if he makes 19 Ligue 1 appearances and Marseille qualify for the Champions League.
But the target is unlikely to be reached.
Bailly has made just 11 league appearances for OM so far this season.