AS Saint-Étienne is not very active in this transfer window so far but has a few players in its sights. Who will be the potential future recruits?
Wajdi Kechrida first recruit?
Tunisian international Wajdi Kechrida has been free since leaving the Etoile Sportif du Sahel. According to Tunisian media Realities Online, the 25-year-old right-back is very close to joining AS Saint-Étienne for a four-year term. The formalization should take place in the coming days. Wajdi Kechrida has been chosen to replace Mathieu Debuchy who did not wish to extend to the Saint-Etienne club.
A new striker for this week?
With the potential departures of Wahbi Khazri and Denis Bouanga, ASSE is keen to recruit to strengthen its attacking sector. Trabzonspor forward Caleb Ekuban is said to be very close to joining the Saint-Etienne side. According to Turkish media Takvim, the transfer of the Ghanaian player is said to have already been completed by AS Saint-Étienne. The two sides have reportedly reached an agreement for an amount of 5 million euros. The 27-year-old was under contract with his current club until June 2022 but the latter declined to extend. According to another Turkish media Miliyet, Caleb Ekuban is expected to arrive in France this week for his medical examination.
# ÖzelHaber Trabzonspor’un Ganalı yıldızı Caleb Ekuban adım adım Fransa’ya https://t.co/26rRJaE7V0
– Takvim (@takvim) July 10, 2021
A goalscorer in the sights
Having scored 21 goals and 5 assists in 31 games with OH Louvain, in the Jupiler Pro League, Thomas Henry is said to be highly coveted by ASSE. It is in particular Claude Puel, the coach of the Greens, who would like to secure the services of the 26-year-old, desperate to find a goalscorer. This is good since Thomas Henry finished 2nd top scorer in the Belgian championship. He is under contract until 2023 with his current club. OH Louvain would like to get 5 million euros out of it. AS Saint-Étienne are not the only Ligue 1 club interested in the striker, there are also RC Lens.
Yordan Osorio to replace Pape Abou Cissé?
It was reluctantly that Claude Puel saw Pope Abou Cisse return to Olympiakos. A player who can succeed him would have been found by the Saint-Etienne club. Indeed, according to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari, Saint-Étienne has shown interest in Yordan Osorio. The 27-year-old defender has played for Parma since 2020 with whom he is under contract until June 2024. He also has 12 caps for Venezuela. The player is estimated at 4 million euros per Transfermarkt. Small flat for ASSE, FC Nantes would also be on the spot.
Nantes e Saint Etienne hanno manifestato interesse per il difensore del #Parma #Osorio @tvdellosport
– Gianluigi Longari (@Glongari) July 9, 2021
Photo credit one: ©Progress / Grégory Bret