It is all the same the sign of a management which leaves much to be desired in recent years, but AS Saint-Etienne is mainly seeking to get rid of players who arrived with big contracts a few years ago, and who are now almost unsaleable.
This is the case of Yann M’Vila, who had been very involved in the recovery of the Greens under Jean-Louis Gasset, but has since slowed down. Now, ASSE seeks to get rid of it at all costs. With two more years of contract, an extension signed in 2018, and 30 years on the clock, the former French international has in theory a significant market value. But the reality of the transfer market is very different and Saint-Etienne is preparing to carry out a blank deal to extricate itself from it.
Contrary to what the Greek press claims, Olympiakos are not going to shell out a single penny for M’Vila this summer. The interest is real and the two clubs are talking well, but according to Manu Lonjon, the Piraeus club’s offer does not include any transfer fee. The simple fact of giving up the salary of the former Rennes resident could be enough for the Saint Etienne leaders to let him go. A saving of nearly 5 ME all the same, and which would therefore justify this reduction of 100%. In terms of image, however, this demonstrates the XXL management error of having extended with a copious salary a player who is now impossible to sell, even if he continues to provide services in the field, as against Lorient last weekend.