Only 17th in Ligue 1, AS Saint-Etienne will have trembled until the end, in the fight for maintenance. Finally, the Greens have retained their place in the elite, but Claude Puel does not want to relive the same ordeal next year. The three-color technician is ready to make great upheavals during the summer transfer window. This is what the Stéphane team could look like at the start of the next season.
Claude Puel confirmed it, Jessy Moulin will remain number 1 in the Saint-Etienne cage, next season. If he wishes to find playing time, Stéphane Ruffier must therefore choose to leave. Trained with Greens, the 34-year-old goalkeeper should therefore make his first full season, as a holder in the Stéphane cage.
Despite his 34 years, Mathieu Debuchy should continue to be the incumbent, in the position of right back. The former Arsenal player, in particular, has again played nearly 31 games in the last exercise. Wishing to continue in Forez, there is no reason to sell it during the summer transfer window.
Only 19 years old, Wesley Fofana knew, over the course of the meetings, establishing himself as an indisputable holder in the central hinge of Greens. Obviously, the young Saint Etienne nugget remains in the viewfinder of the biggest European clubs. But if ASSE decides to sell it, it wishes to carry out the same formula as for William Saliba. That is to say to have him lend a season, before he definitively leaves Forez. The young central defender should therefore still be present next season.
? ⚽️ The@ASSEofficiel covets the much asked Maxence #The cross (not Leo). The central defender of the @FCSM_officiel is under contract until 2022. #ASS
Via @ GaelB42 pic.twitter.com/En8a4VauPB
– Sainté Inside (@InsideSainte) June 6, 2020
With the departures of William Saliba and Léo Lacroix, and the mixed performances of Loïc Perrin, AS Saint-Etienne must start looking for a new central defender. A name stands out from the crowd in recent days: Maxence Lacroix. Holder with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, the young 20-year-old defender has what it takes to move upstairs.
? The@ASSEofficiel is interested in the Algerian left side Hamza #Mouali (22 years old). This international U23 is currently playing at Paradou AC. He has played 30 games this season. #ASS
Via @francefootball pic.twitter.com/A3a3ubBTDm
– Sainté Inside (@InsideSainte) June 9, 2020
Exit Miguel Trauco or Timothée Kolodziejczak, Claude Puel wants a new left side. And this one could well be Hamza Mouali. Young Paradou AC player in Algeria particularly appeals to Greens. Author of 3 goals and 5 assists, all competitions combined, this season, he can be a very good deal for the club from Stéphane.
Already on the file last summer, Lucien Agoumé had finally chosen to leave FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, to join Inter Milan. But now, he only played six short minutes in Serie A. The young midfielder could therefore be loaned during the summer transfer window. ASSE therefore wishes to recover it, to allow it to become a bit more experienced at the highest level.
With the potential departures of Yohan Cabaye and Yann M’Vila, ASSE must strengthen its midfield. Why not look at the profile of Angelo Fulgini? Already linked, in recent times, to the Stéphane club, the SCO Angers player is at the end of the contract in June 2021. The Greens will still have to face competition from the Girondins de Bordeaux in this matter.
After Tanguy Kouassi, Paris Saint-Germain risks losing Adil Aouchiche in the weeks to come. The young attacking midfielder wants to evolve regularly at the highest level. A status that the capital’s club does not seem to be able to offer it. By signing his first professional contract, the 17-year-old could win in the starting lineup for Claude Puel.
When not injured, Romain Hamouma continues to render precious services to Greens. Not against the idea of ending his career in Forez, the right winger scored six goals in just 14 contested days. The 33-year-old could therefore continue to evolve within the attack of Claude Puel’s team.
Certainly, he is the most courted player in the workforce of the Greens. And we understand why, since Denis Bouanga offered 12 goals and five assists in the last exercise. ASSE has no intention of selling one of its best players for less than 15 million euros. It seems delicate to imagine a team aligning such an offer. The 25-year-old player therefore has a good chance of continuing on the Forez, to the delight of the Stéphanois supporters.
The fight promises to be fierce for Adrian Grbic, whose 90min recently painted a portrait. For his first season in France, the Austrian striker finished in second place in the Ligue 2 scorers, with a total of 17 goals. It is thus normal that the 23-year-old player is so courted. Wishing to join a club capable of offering him substantial playing time in the elite, ASSE has the arguments to convince him to commit. An excellent deal for both parties.