Under contract with AS Saint-Etienne until Wednesday inclusive, Romain Hamouma was absent when training resumed on Monday. Not surprisingly, when we learn that talks for an attacker’s extension have stalled.
Like other Ligue 1 residents, AS Saint-Etienne resumed training on Monday. The opportunity for coach Claude Puel to observe the decrease in his private squad of Mathieu Debuchy and Kévin Monnet-Paquet, not retained at the end of their contract. But the most notable absence concerns Romain Hamouma. The 34-year-old forward is also nearing the end of his tenure. Except unlike his two former team-mates, the former Stade Malherbe Caen player is discussing a contract extension with his managers.
So why did Romain Hamouma prefer not to show up for the resumption? Quite simply because the negotiations with the management are absolutely not moving forward. As announced by coach Claude Puel at the end of the season, AS Saint-Etienne intended to make a proposal to their striker. But since then, only an oral offer from co-president Roland Romeyer has been sent by telephone to the Stéphanois’ agents. And obviously, the conditions of this offer, namely an additional year with the possibility of keeping the same salary, do not suit Romain Hamouma.
Hamouma coveted in L1
This is why the regional daily Le Progrès indicates that the two parties are sticking to their positions and that the discussions have stalled. A disappointing situation for the striker, who has scored six goals and an assist in Ligue 1 this season. So much so that the player, unlike his entourage who are waiting for the club to pass in front of the DNCG, would no longer believe in the hypothesis of an extension given the silence of Claude Puel. The same coach who had praised him last month. After nine years with the Greens, Romain Hamouma expected another end, as he will have to study approaches from Nice, Lorient and foreign clubs.