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This is one of the important moments of the 2024/2025 season in Ligue 2 for FC Metz: the winter transfer window. An intense period for Metz supporters, but especially for the sports management led by Frédéric Arpinon.
The end of the first leg of the Ligue 2 championship is already here. It is time for all clubs, including FC Metzto look concretely at this winter transfer window for the 2024/2025 season, which will begin on January 1, 2025 and end on February 4, 2025 at 12:00 a.m. The opportunity to look at the strategy and the subjects that await the sporting director of FC Metz, Frédéric Arpinon.
A desire to adjust the workforce
On paper, it is difficult to succumb to the idea of overturning the table. The reason is simple: FC Metz is fourth in Ligue 2, just four points behind the leader. FC Lorient. Clearly, Metz is in the right car, the one in the lead. There is therefore no reason to make major, in-depth changes to the squad. This is a point shared Frédéric Arpinon during an interview at the microphone of Moselle TV : “We’re on target! ». Finally, there is a rather positive feeling that appears when we analyze the performance of the players present in the squad since last year, but also of the summer recruits.
Thus, this winter transfer window can be seen for FC Metz as an extension of the strategy put in place in the summer of 2024. The objective is to improve the workforce in certain particular roles which may be under tension. The same goes for certain play areas, for which a need for reinforcements may be felt: “ We are not going to revolutionize everything. If we can make small adjustments, we won’t bother doing them. », continues the sports director of the FC Metz. This adjustment can lead to arrivals, but also to departures in order to have better human management of the workforce.
Where can FC Metz recruit in the winter transfer window?
Let’s start with what is of primary interest to any FC Metz supporter: the recruits. As indicated earlier, this transfer window will serve as an improvement and extension of the current strategy. The area which today crystallizes many questions is the attack.
Metz is the 7th attack in the championship. A ranking which places it behind clubs like FC Lorient and USL Dunkerque, respectively 1st and 3rd in the Ligue 2 championship in terms of points. The feeling is that the three center forwards of FC Metz who are Cheikh Tidiane Sabaly, Simon Elisor et Ibou Sané fail to fully meet the expectations placed on them.
Simon Elisor is probably the name that comes up most often. So certainly, his end of pre-season preparation was marred by an injury. But he was unable to find his place in the game orchestrated by Le Mignanand seems lost on the ground. A complicated situation for the man who was at the heart of the Metz offensive project.
Ibou Sané is a special case. Le Mignan and the sports management of FC Metz wanted to put it to the test from the start of the season. Turns out he’s not yet ready to be a permanent solution at the edge of the offense. He’s still going to need time.
Cheikh Tidiane Sabaly shows good things in this first part of the season with his eight goals. Be careful, however, of the inconstancy that can inhabit the player. The start of the 2024/2025 season was extraordinary, but it is starting to fall into line. It is therefore difficult to rest the attack solely on the shoulders of the 25-year-old Senegalese international.
Therefore, finding a finisher profile is not such a bad idea in itself. But you have to recruit smartly, not put yourself in the red for just one profile. Easier said than done. This is why, rather than taking a big risk on such a profile, the choice of keeping the 3 offensive elements may be necessary. Joseph Mangodo and the nugget Idrissa Gueye – the latter could be a new defector from Génération Foot – will potentially enter the rotation of attackers in the coming weeks.
For other areas of the field, it should be quiet. The offensive and defensive wings are going in a good direction. The central defense brings a certain satisfaction, and notably revolves around a rotation with three solid central defenders: Ismael Traore, Sadibou Sané et Aboubacar Lô. The middle is an area that is also unlikely to receive reinforcements, although we would not be against a certain additional dose of creativity.
Departures to consider
No upheaval in the workforce also means few potential departures. It is still necessary to distinguish certain cases, which can push a player on the squad to leave Metz this winter.
The first player that we can mention disappeared from the Grenats starting team during this season: Fali Cande. The Guinea-Bissau international alternates between the bench and absences from the squad due to the captain’s excellent start to the season Matthew Howl. We can imagine a sporting disillusionment for Candeeven if the player’s attitude remains professional: ” He has a good state of mind. He is always there when we call on him “, underlines Frédéric Arpinon. The coach Stéphane Le Mignan had however tried to bring the two players together in a 3-5-2 system at the start of the season. However, Cande had failed to stand out in the role of left piston. A lack of significant playing time which should push him towards the exit.
Kévin Van den Kerkhof is another name that stands out in the departures, with the player having in the past shown his willingness to leave the club. He had already tried to do so during the 2024 summer transfer window in vain. FC Metz already has Koffi Kouao as holder, and also Maxime Colinrecently extended until 2027. Even if Le Mignan mentioned the possibility of seeing Van den Kerkhof at the right winger position, it is far from Metz that the future of the Algerian international seems to be taking shape.
There also remains the case of young players who have a professional contract and have very little or no playing time. A situation which concerns Charles Divialle, Lilian Raillot or Edouard Soumah-Abbad. FC Metz would like to give them playing time. The goal is obviously to find them a club higher than the level of the FC Metz reserve in National 3 (5th French division). Metz can try to offer players to National clubs. The 3rd tier of French football would be a good opportunity for them to play in order to gain experience.
This winter transfer window for the 2024/2025 Ligue 2 season promises to be rather calm for FC Metz. The desire is to continue the policy pursued since the summer of 2024. However, the club will not hesitate to slightly improve the squad, especially in terms of attack, if this is possible. There will be no madness in terms of potential recruits. Especially for a club which is well in the race to climb back into Ligue 1.
Featured photo : Julien Buret / Let’s Go Metz
