Very discreet during the last summer transfer window, AS Saint-Etienne did not have the means to strengthen themselves further. But the context should be more favorable next summer, according to Executive Chairman Jean-François Soucasse.
We had to wait until the last day of the transfer window to see AS Saint-Etienne recruit. On loan from Uruguayans Liverpool FC, striker Ignacio Ramirez is the one and only reinforcement for Claude Puel’s squad, who did not expect to see the recruits parade this summer. Indeed, the management has never hidden its lack of financial resources. The new executive president Jean-François Soucasse therefore assumed this passivity in the columns of Progress.
” We didn’t lie to anyone, defended the leader. When you have limited means, you identify priority positions. There were three, including two attackers. We were happy that Romain (Hamouma) came back and we were able to recruit Ignacio Ramirez on loan in the last minutes of the transfer window. He is a good player with a great reputation as a goalscorer. As for the defender, Mickaël Nadé was able to seize his chance. Our objective was to respond to Claude’s sporting ambitions in a very constrained economic context. “
“16 players at the end of the contract”
If the DNCG gave the green light, the club still has ” a payroll that is inadequate with (his) income “, Warns Jean-François Soucasse, much more optimistic for next summer. ” At the end of this season, 16 players will be at the end of their contract with more or less important salaries., he stressed. On July 1, 2022, the club will then have greater leeway to control its payroll. In the space of 18 months, we will have significantly reduced it. Besides that, all our young players will have long-term contracts. They represent the future of the club. Fans can just wait and hope that the Greens will stay in Ligue 1 this season.