ASSE had 51 players under professional contracts in 2019-20. But 16 of them have already left this summer, and it is probably not over … Overview.
Penniless despite sales from Rémy Cabella, Ole Selnaes, Willy Saliba or more recently from Franck Honorat and Vagner Dias, ASSE is forced to recruit smart this summer. This is what she did when she went looking for Jean-Philippe Krasso, Yvan Neyou and Adil Aouchiche. And during the second part of the Mercato, Claude Puel will still have to play it fine. This is what the Saint-Etienne coach said a few days ago. “We really have to downsize both in terms of quantity and money in order to possibly make some touch-ups. Otherwise they would not be allowed, ”he explained. ASSE’s squad was overcrowded when it arrived. One of his goals was to slim down, and the club have been busy doing that in recent weeks. In total, no less than 16 players under professional contracts have already left Forez.
9 players were out of contract, none remained
Among the goalkeepers, ASSE did not renew the contract of Théo Vermot, who signed with Orléans (National). Alexis Guendouz, on loan from Pau last year, has joined USM Algiers. Among the defenders, Léo Lacroix was at the end of his contract and Loïc Perrin took his retirement. Mickaël Nadé was loaned to Quevilly-Rouen (National), while reservist Aboubacar Sidiki Kouyaté was not retained. Tested by AC Ajaccio (L2), full-back Alpha Sissoko did not convince the Corsican club.
16 departures, € 10 million recovered …
In the middle, Yohan Cabaye, at the end of his contract, preferred to leave the club rather than stack up for a month to compete in the Coupe de France final. On loan from Monaco, Jean-Eudes Aholou returned to the Principality. Disappointed with the player’s performance in reserve, ASSE preferred to put an end to the loan of young Colombian Luis Sanchez, who was initially to remain in Forez until June 2021, and did not keep Alexandre Valbon, a year after the ‘have signed a first pro contract of a season. Also at the end of the contract, Oussama Tannane, loaned to Vitesse Arnhem, will remain in the Netherlands. Finally, in attack, the leaders of Saint-Etienne transferred Franck Honorat to Brest and Vagner Dias to Metz. Loaned to Nancy (L2) last season, Makhtar Gueye will continue his career in Belgium, in Ostend, where he is committed until 2024. In total, these three transfers brought in just under 10 million. €. Finally, the young Lamine Ghezali is loaned to SC Lyon (National) and Kleeveyns Hérelle has been left free. He arrived last January from Avranches (National).
A “purge” far from over
More starts are desired and it is no coincidence that Puel did not invite some players to the Dinard camp last week. Stéphane Ruffier remained in Forez just like Sergi Palencia, Miguel Trauco, in discussions with Olympiakos, Yann M’Vila, Ryad Boudebouz, Wahbi Khazri, tracked by Trabzonspor, and Loïs Diony. So many elements that are more or less pushed towards the exit.
