AS Saint-Etienne have registered their first reinforcement, while the transfer window has just opened its doors with the signing of Dennis Appiah. Two if you count Gaëtan Charbonnier who joined Laurent Batlles’ squad as a wildcard in mid-December. Other recruits will quickly follow.
3 names for the goalkeeper position
One of the priority files for the winter is the signing of a goalkeeper. The leaders have been working for several weeks to find a new goalkeeper in charge. Neither Etienne Green nor Matthieu Dreyer were convincing after 17 games. Laurent Batlles wants a new goalkeeper. His leaders agree with him and consider this recruitment essential in the search for conservation.
Three songs have already been revealed. Goal Saint-Etienne mentioned an interest in Gautier Larsonneur several weeks ago. The advantage has been confirmed and is the priority of the leaders. In plan B, Laurent Batlles has long appreciated Gauthier Gallon. Recently on the bench in Troyes, practice seems feasible. But several former Trojans have already joined the exercise. Without much success so far. It is not the priority but remains an option considered.
Last track, Jérôme Prior. As we exclusively announced to you several weeks ago, the former Bordeaux player is among the guards followed by the Greens. In delicacy in Greece, the track seems the easiest to reach for residents of Saint-Etienne. However, today it is not at the top of the preference list.
Gautier Larsonneur remains the priority of the Greens
As indicated above, Gautier Larsonneur has been the priority of the Greens since November. Already approached last summer, the leaders could not guarantee the Breton first place. On the Brest bench, he then opted for Valenciennes. A paying choice as he has been performing ever since. Larsonneur has regained the confidence he had lost in his training club. He is now one of the most decisive goalkeepers in the league.
Negotiations started several weeks ago between ASSE and Valenciennes. The northerners are in a strong position after exercising the buy option included in the goalkeeper’s loan.
As in any negotiation, each party does not hesitate to bluff…
Thus expressed the president of Valenciennes at the Voix du Nord at the beginning of the week.
Eddy Zdziech: « There have been contacts between us and Saint-Étienne, but a few days ago. And honestly, Gautier will not go to Saint-Étienne and will stay in Valenciennes. Today I no longer think that Gautier is part of AS Saint-Étienne’s plans. »
From the AXIS side, we can hear the same sounds. The asking price is too high. Roland Romeyer, like Eddy Zdziech, does not intend to be fooled by overpaying the goalkeeper.
A file still open
Everyone intends to defend their interests and above all not to lose face. Valenciennes do not want the sale of their goalkeeper to be perceived as abandoning all ambitions in a rather satisfactory season so far (9th, 7 points behind runners-up Bordeaux). Brest, which will recover 50% of the transfer, wants to get a check for the goalkeeper, which he clearly got rid of 5 months ago.
And on the Green side, overpaying is out of the question. Other posts need to be strengthened this winter. The entire allocated budget cannot be spent on Gautier Larsonneur.
Be that as it may, contrary to the latest trends which suggested that the ASSE had closed the file, it is not closed. Far from there. Several people close to the dossier are even optimistic about the chances of seeing the move succeed.
As is the custom to say in these market periods, wait and see…
