Sixth in Ligue 1 with 30 points eight days from the end of the championship, Claude Puel and ASSE are fighting to avoid relegation. But the AS Saint-Etienne coach is already said to be preparing for the future. The former coach of Olympique Lyonnais would thus have his sights set on a young talent.
ASSE Mercato: Claude Puel prepares for the departure of Mathieu Debuchy
Having arrived free in January 2018, Mathieu Debuchy runs inexorably towards his departure from ASSE. At the end of his contract on June 30, the right-back defender still has no news from Saint-Etienne management. A sign that the leaders of AS Saint-Etienne are not really keen on continuing the adventure with the former French international.
The 35-year-old former Arsenal FC, Lille OSC and Newcastle United player is therefore heading for a start at the end of the season. Aware of this situation, Claude Puel would now think of the succession of his executive. And the technician from Saint-Etienne would already have a target in sight.
A Ligue 2 side instead of Mathieu Debuchy?
Indeed, according to the information relayed in recent hours by our colleagues from the Green People, Puel would be very interested in the profile of Akim Zedadka, playing at Clermont Foot. Still according to the same source, the recruiters of AS Saint-Etienne have launched major maneuvers to attract this former resident of RC Lens.
“The performance of the former RC Lens defender has not left the elite clubs unmoved. At 25, his career was slowed down by an injury and he had to go through the UNFP box 3 years ago where he played in the “unemployed” team during the summer of 2018. Now, his services plead for him. Versatile, on the right or on the left, it has completed a second consecutive full and successful season, ”says the specialist site.
Valued at 1.2 million euros by Transfermarkt, Akim Zedadka will cost ASSE nothing as he comes to the end of his engagement with Clermont Foot at the end of the current financial year. So a very good move for ASSE. It remains to be seen whether the decision-makers in Saint-Etienne will succeed in making the deal a reality.
To be continued …