Unlike last summer, Montpellier is not in need and is not forced to sell to balance accounts. At the same time, with a staff limited in experience, quality and quantitythe MHSC wants and absolutely must strengthen itself, in particular to face a high-risk season, with four runs, but also to make up for the “errors” of the last transfer windows and regenerate certain positions.
For now, while five departures have been recorded (Sambia, Ristic, Gioacchini, Oyongo, Thuler) and two professional contracts have been signed recently (Fayad, Tchato), two arrivals are recorded : Arnaud nordin (ASSE) in front and Theo Sainte Luce (Nîmes), as understudy in the left lane. But the leaders know that they will not be able to settle for these two free players.
If no one is officially pushed towards the exit, no veto will be, in principle, opposed to the exit of a Hérault player, in the event of an offer deemed satisfactory, and for some substantial. Without making it an obsession, the MHSC thus hopes to succeed in selling one, two, or even three of the most bankable elements of the workforce, in order to increase its liquidity.
Jonas Omlin: departure or not?
Ten days ago, after the last match in Angers, Jonas Omlin confided to us that he will be there, at the recovery. Only we know that the Swiss goalkeeper, author of a good season despite the many goals conceded by his formation, is courted, is that Montpellier does not exclude the idea, far from it, of bring in money through a possible sale of the internationalnumber two in selection, arrived in Hérault two years ago.
the english market is notably probed by intermediaries, and the profile of Jonas Omlin, who had played the friendly match of the Nati against England, on March 26, at Wembley, could well seduce across the Channel, knowing that its leaders are hoping for 10 million euros.
Of course, a project would have to interest the former Basel goalkeeper, but in the event of departure, Dimitry Bertaud would be promoted to number one. It’s a certainty. In this case, Montpelier would recruit a number two and retain Matis Carvalho, exemplary and talented number three, or bring up a youngster from the training center.
In contrast, if Jonas Omlin were to stay, Dimitry Bertaud might want to be loaned outhe who now wishes to play, while he extended at the start of the exercise with the MHSC.
Deserted corridors
With three starts in the corridors, Montpellier will be able to regenerate a sector that has been struggling, or at least very irregular, in recent years. On the left, for now, Theo Sainte-Luce just landed as an understudy, and Nicolas Cozza can help out. It is therefore a question of finding a number 1 for the position, whereas, as we revealed on April 22, in 100% Paillade, Faitout Maouassa is one of the targets of the MHSC.
The former U23 international is no longer part of Club Brugge’s plans, where he arrived a year ago and where he ultimately played very little, and he should be sold. Aged only 23, he has been followed for a long time by the recruitment unit of the MHSC, in particular when he played in Nîmes, then on loan from Stade Rennais, with Téji Savanier and Jordan Ferri, but also Théo-Sainte-Luce.
However, other names are on the table, especially since the search for the Hérault board is precise: qualities as a counter-attacker, yes, but defensive qualities, also and above all.
Ditto for the right lane, where the club currently relies on Arnaud Souquet and Enzo Tchato who has just signed his first professional contract (1+2). Montpellier Hérault aims to hire a third player in order to give Bill’s son time to grow up and get his bearings, without pressure. Among the tracks: Gideon Kaluluunder contract with AC Ajaccio until June 2023, is one name among others.
On the other hand, if Clement Michelinin difficulty at AEK Athens and who wishes to return to France, has indeed been checked and discussed, he is not holding the line today, according to our information.
A central defense to review?
At the dawn of the 2022-2023 financial year, the coach has five solutions : Mamadou Sakho, Nicolas Cozza, Maxime Estève, Pedro Mendes and Clément Vidal, back from loan to Ajaccio, club with which he has just been promoted to Ligue 1.
Regarding the latter, discussions should take place in the coming weeks. It will be a question in particular of knowing if Clément Vidal wishes to rub shoulders with the competition within the MHSC, or if he wishes to stay on the island of Beauty.. In this case, the Paillade would claim transfer compensation from Ajaccio on which it would be necessary to discuss and, possibly, negotiate.
Anyway, a mini puzzle or a nice emulation is looming, because difficult to imagine that the first three will be satisfied with a substitute place, while the Portuguese, back from a serious injury, will need time, but retains a certain status, due to his experience.
If it resigned itself to giving up Clément Vidal, in Ajaccio or even elsewhere, La Paillade would rely on three left-handers for one right-hander, and would be forced to use Cozza and Estève on their bad foot, alongside Mamadou Sakho. Nothing dramatic, they have proven that they are capable of it and have worked in this direction in recent months, but not ideal, however.
The reflection must also take into account the possible sale of one of the two young people mentioned above, even if, for the moment, there is still nothing concrete in the pipesespecially concerning the international tricolor U20, despite the still distant interest of several European formations.
The environment, a central question
In any case, this is what reinforces the desire of the staff to see a versatile midfielder arrive, capable of lending a hand behind, if necessary. But beyond that, since his arrival, Olivier Dall’Oglio deplores the absence of template, in the midfield.
The coach can rely on very good technicians, but does not count no athletic playerable to defend and cut pass lines, in other words to do “dirty work”, in front of a defense that has just conceded 61 goals in 38 games.
A observation already established by Michel Der Zakarian, who nevertheless benefited from the presence of Damien Le Tallec. A profile similar to that of the former Le Havre is therefore sought, and as we have revealed, the Tunisian international Aïssa Laïdouni is one of the boys lying on the list of recruiters, on the Grammont side.
Strengthen the midfieldit is thus the will of the board, which would also like and like everyone else to know if the biggest talent of the effecti, Téji Savanier, will extend. Confidence is essential, internally, where there is good hope of quickly closing the filefrom now on.
Either way, because he’s not obligated to sell, Laurent Nicollin had made it known that he would only sell his maestro on two conditions : a huge check and the will displayed by his number ten to leave the MHSC, which is not the case.
On the other hand, without officially placing them on the transfer list, Montpellier expects requests for Florent Mollet and for the international Espoirs Joris Chotard.
So far, the latter, who has two years left on his contract, would see himself staying at least one more season in the Hérault, where he gradually becomes, despite his young age, a pillar. But here too, the question would arise depending on the possible sports project and the amount of the check that some would be ready to pay.
Hot, ahead!
Last project, that of an attack carried out by Elye Wahi, top scorer for La Paillade with ten goalsincluding six of the sixteen signed by his team during the last 19 days.
In this sector, Montpellier plans to offer Yanis Guermouche more playing time and can count on the contribution of Arnaud Nordin, with whom everything has been validated for a while now. But as it stands, if she wants to recruit at least one of the attackers she is following closely, the sports management will have to rely on the sale of an item.
And if everyone, including within the general staff, has long imagined that Stephy Mavididi was the player closest to leavingthis summer, it could be that the performances of the Englishman, on the return phase and since his injury, have relegated the former gunners to second place, behind Elye Wahi, among the most coveted offensives.
In the meantime, boys like Simon Banza (RC Lens), Ui-jo Hwang (Bordeaux), Jean-David Beauguel (Pilzen), or even Jordan Siebatcheu (Young Boys) remain in the sights. While Wahbi Khazri (ASSSE) is also free, since the relegation of Saint-Etienne, and he also likes Montpellier.
Finally, if the file remains on stand-by, the Hérault leaders, as indicated in 100% Paillade, are considering the possibility of keeping Rémy Cabellawhose freelance at the end of the season convinced the staff, whether in terms of football, professionalism and attitude.