Winter mercato open! Until January 31, 11:59 p.m., professional football clubs can buy, sell, lend or be loaned, players and adjust their numbers. At FC Metz, disappointing 18th at the end of the first leg of the Ligue 1 season, coach Frédéric Antonetti recognizes needs “obvious.“
The needs: reinforcement at the rear
They are clearly located in defense. Weak point of the season, with a goal conceded by half-time on average, it is weakened by absences: Dylan Bronn and Kiki Kouyaté left for the African Cup of Nations and the recovery of Matthieu Udol will last for a long time. month. Udol’s serious injury deprives the team of a solution in the axis, while the latter often plays three in this position, as well as a possibility of competition for the position of left side.
Preview in training in early November, as well as in a friendly against Kaiserslautern, free of any contract, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik (ex-Toulouse and Rennes) should strengthen this back line.
The other priority is in attack. FC Metz hardly has Ibrahima Niane as a 9 by profession, but his first part of the season has not lived up to expectations.
Means: necessarily limited
This summer, FC Metz did not spent the smallest euro. It will be the same this winter. The precariousness of its classification prevents any risk taking and betting for the future. If the club takes a player, he must be able to instantly bring the team into a long race towards retention. “The equation is difficult, comments Frédéric Antonetti. Even if it does not show in our results, we have good players. And finding better, or just as well, with our means, is very complicated. Taking a player to be ready in six months or a year, I’ve had enough. If it is a player who can bring it straight away, it is yes. But it’s very complicated to find.“
It is signed:
- Substitute goalkeeper who started at the end of 2021, Marc-Aurèle Caillard extended by two seasons. He is now engaged until 2024.