a new midfielder in Montpellier? La Paillade delays and hopes to sell

When he arrived a year ago, Olivier Dall’Oglio had targeted a lack in the Hérault between game. From the outset, the technician had expressed his wish to see a more athletic and more defensive midfielder than those in place. A legitimate wish and already formulated, a few months earlier, by his predecessor Michel Der Zakarian, who had, for once, Damien le Tallec.

This request has therefore become a constant with the current Pailladin coach, which, last winter, saw the arrival of Gabriel Barès. A midfielder, of course, but whose profile was not all that expected. The Swiss, who was then a bet of the recruitment unit, has also just been loaned to D2, in his native country.

This summer, the club therefore once again set in search of the rare pearl. But if several players were targeted, the list was reduced as the amounts were claimed or the salary claims of each other were revealed. Thus came out boys like Josuha Guilavogui or Aissa Laidounifor which it would have been necessary to pay nearly three million euros.

Today, at the dawn of the recovery and while the Paillade has not sold any player, except Florent Mollet for a few hundred thousand euros excluding bonuses, the MHSC is therefore unable to attract the coveted defensive midfielder. Not yet, at least.

It is therefore with the men in placeas well as with Khalil Fayad, whom the coach will again have to “compose“: ball players, technical and who like to project themselves, but whose sizes struggle to compete with the cupboards and the large buffets of the championship.

A regret, no doubt, but Olivier Dall’Oglio refuses to dwell continually. Evidenced by his remarks, this Friday, at a press conference.

sell to buy

Without selling, La Paillade is unable to buy. It’s that simple. This is why the MHSC is counting on a significant offer for one of the “bankable” elements of the locker room, by August 30, even if the president believes that he has a quality workforce capable of carving out a place among the first ten, according to his words in the columns of the Midi Libre.

In this interview, published on Friday, Laurent Nicollin indicated that he had received a proposal for Valère Germain, which the latter declined because “he doesn’t want to leave“, but some of his partners are also coveted or could be in the next three weeks. And that is undoubtedly by the sale of one of them, and thanks to the savings on his salary, that the Paillade will be able to fill up, get some air and get back to actionto get the currently targeted sentry, or any other player.

Several players closely followed

Stephy Mavididi scored 17 goals in 70 games for Montpellier © AFP
NurPhoto

A year ago, the English appeared as the hen with the golden eggs of the Paillade, but his performances over the last six months have not allowed him to fly to englandduring the truce, which he dreamed of.

Author of three goals in the last two friendlies, including a double on the London lawn of Crystal Palace, the young striker seems to be coming back strong. Some recruiters have come forward again in recent days.

Elye Wahi scored 10 goals and provided 2 assists last season
Elye Wahi scored 10 goals and provided 2 assists last season © AFP
Pascal Guyot

As surprising as it may seem, when young strikers like Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Ali Cho have been sold for more than 30 and 10 million euros in recent weeks, the top scorer (10 goals) of the previous fiscal year for his first full season, at just 19, has yet to make an official offer this summer. Or, at least, not in that order. His entourage is however regularly called upon.

Propelled into the deep end on the first day last season, the 20-year-old defender had a high-flying first part of the season, before getting injured. He then had more difficulty coming back and did not pull out of the game in a period when his formation plunged. This did not prevent him from performing a very good Festival Espoirs de Toulon during the off-season, and this did not scare away his suitors, far from it. Several clubs supervised him, surveyed his entourage and approached the Pailladesince its birth: Milan, Lille and Nice to name but a few.

Maxime Esteve played 24 games in his first season in Ligue 1
Maxime Esteve played 24 games in his first season in Ligue 1 © AFP
Valery Ax

According to our information, theUdinese and the Hellas Verona, in Italy, have expressed a more than serious interest. Two formations cooled by the sum desired by the Paillade: at least 15 million euros for the international U19, when the envelope of the first team could not go beyond seven or eight million euros.

The MHSC is very greedy, no doubt a how to double lock the doorfor a boy dear to the heart of the president and management, and on whom they intend to rely.

Attentive to the proposed projects, Maxime Estève and his family have no intention of arm wrestling to force a departure. They hope, on the other hand, that this attachment will result in a significant playing time.

The solid Swiss goalkeeper, number two in selection, has what is called an exit voucher. Its president has repeated that he would be happy to see him stay, but does not intend to block him if a more ambitious project seduces him.provided that the amount is suitable for the Paillade.

Jonas Omlin is number two in Switzerland, behind Yann Sommer
Jonas Omlin is number two in Switzerland, behind Yann Sommer © AFP
Fabrice Coffrini

Will the former FC Basel goalkeeper take the risks leaving his club three months before the World Cup, in case of solicitation? This is another question for those who, moreover, do not want to relive a season to cash goal on goal, in the Hérault.

Nicolas Cozza's contract ends in June 2023
Nicolas Cozza’s contract ends in June 2023 © AFP
Bertrand Queneutte

The former Espoirs international undoubtedly had his best matches in the Pailladin jersey last season, before the team’s situation worsened after the break. Madly in love with his club, the grandson of the first captain in the history of the MHSC, who has only one year left on his contract, would also be in the radars of several clubs, which would begin to seriously consider the file, according to our information.


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