Stuck in an ugly dynamic and already lost in its objective of immediate recovery, the VAFC will have to take advantage of the winter transfer window to adjust a workforce which has reached its limits with the obligation, in order to live up to its ambitions, to find avenues bringing real added value. Here are the ideas from 11Valenciennes.
Patterns for each line sought after
If, at the end of the summer transfer window, Ahmed Kantari was satisfied with the squad at his disposal, reinforced on the gong by Daouda Traoré and Sambou Sissoko, it is clear six months later that it still contains flaws . If the depth is rather assured in all sectors – with the exception of the central hinge -, the absence of emerging players around Mathias Oyewusi penalizes a VAFC which cannot rely on a still failing collective expression. Without shaking everything up, and while a good number of executives could leave the ship next summer, the VAFC winter transfer window calls for adding great quality in small quantities. So, here are the three sectors where the Valenciennes board could decide to act.
A central hinge to be renewed
Despite a pole made up of four players with certain references (Jordan Poha, Joachim Kayi Sanda, Lucas Woudenberg, They went to Dibassy), this was forced to be reinforced by the young Jules Collet and Sakalou Niakhaté, depending on injuries or call-ups to the national team. Without forgetting the troubleshooting of Julien Masson when the VAFC played with three defenders. Among all these names and each for various reasons, none has really managed to take leadership of a defense that is still shaky. So, while the left center position will be reinforced by the return of Bakaye Dibassy from injury, a right center position to compensate for the irregularity of young Poha and Kayi Sanda could be a good idea.
ANTHONY BRIANÇON, SAINT-ÉTIENNE (0 match)
Downgraded and on departure from Saint-Étienne, Anthony Briançon is in an impasse. Never appearing in Ligue 1 this season due to a knee injury, the ex-Nîmes player will not be retained and should be called upon this winter. If his qualities can allow him to claim Ligue 2, a project like the VAFC could also interest him. At 30, he has solid experience at professional level (257 matches in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2) and would bring a little more leadership to a team which, in recent weeks, has seemed to lack resilience at times. .
CHEIKHOU KOUYATÉ, WITHOUT CONTRACT (0 matches)
This would be a huge blow, it remains to be seen whether it is feasible. Free from any contract since his adventure at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League ended, Sheikhou Kouyaté was very close to bouncing back into the English second division this fall, before an inconclusive medical examination canceled the operation with Leeds. At 35 years old, the versatile Senegalese could contribute both as a central hinge and in the middle. Although he has never played in France, the Lion of Teranga (92 caps, 4 goals) with nearly 300 Premier League matches is perfectly French-speaking. The prospect of playing in the North, a few kilometers from Belgium where he spent a decade, could also weigh in the balance.
SEGA COULIBALY, WITHOUT CONTRACT (0 matches)
While he has not set foot on a professional pitch since May 2023, Sega Coulibaly will certainly have to find the right shoe this winter. After more than two seasons in the United States, the former French U20 international (2 selections) has been looking for a project for a year after having had summer touches in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, in vain. Trained in Rennes before moving to Sedan, Avranches and Nancy, the Franco-Malian had reached a milestone at the Los Angeles Galaxy before experiencing a serious setback in his career. At 28, he is still in his prime and could be of great service.
Other tracks: Bourama Forma (Levadia, end of contract in December 2024), Maxime Spano (Zalgiris, end of contract in December 2024)
A midfield to retouch?
The least priority need of the VAFC given the equipment available (Julien Masson, Rémy Boissier, Sambou Sissoko, Daouda Traoré, Jean-Eric Moursou), a reinforcement in the midfield would not be refused either, none of these names would be refused. he is imposed as the real boss of the industry. Thus, only great added value is sought, at the risk of piling up players in this sector.
ROBIN MAULUN, OUT OF CONTRACT (0 games)
Left France in 2018, Robin Maulun tasted El Dorado in the Netherlands. Having become a reference in the Dutch second division after having experienced the lower divisions in France, the 28-year-old midfielder even discovered the Eredivisie with relative success at Cambuur then Volendam (52 matches, 5 goals, 8 assists). Creative midfielder, elite passer, his profile is similar to that of Rémy Boissier. And while we could easily have imagined him bouncing back to Ligue 2 after his end of adventure at Volendam, the former Bordeaux player is still free from any contract.
VICTOR LOBRY, WITHOUT CONTRACT (0 matches)
Despite six convincing months in Guingamp, Victor Lobry always remains free on the market. Not returned to Brittany while the EAG had to tighten its belt economically after the drop in TV rights, the 29-year-old midfielder would obviously be a wonderful coup for the VAFC if the demands of the two parties are in line. A creative passing midfielder without shying away from defensive effort with a volume of play and remarkable self-sacrifice, the former Stéphanois has the same agent as a certain Jean Louchet. Word to the wise…
BILAL NADIR, Marseille (4 matches, 0 goals, 0 assists)
Beyond the avenues without contract, which are as numerous as they are interesting (see below), the prospect of a loan for six months is also possible. So, Bilal Nadir could be a viable option. Quite interesting in his few appearances with Marseille, the 21-year-old midfielder pays the XXL competition and the weeks in a match on the Cannebière side. Freelance in National, in a club which notably saw the passage of Salim Ben Seghir on loan from Marseille in 2023 and where he would have the keys to the midfield, could suit all parties. Its technicality, its quality of strike and its activity would not be refused in Hainaut.
Other tracks: Sanjan Prcic (libre), James Lea Silk (libre), Pope Diong (Strasbourg, on loan), Laminate Form (Saint-Étienne), Thomas Monconduit (Saint-Étienne)
A distinguished winger to unearth
Since the transition to 4-3-3, the VAFC has struggled to express itself in width. The fault, among others, of wingers with too interior profiles like Aymen Boutoutaou or Flamarion. Overall performing well compared to the rest of the workforce, these two illustrate the lack of diversity in a sector where only the profile of Maccabi Lilepofaster and vertical, brings something different. Another winger with similar qualities could represent real added value at VA.
ABDOULAY DIABY, WITHOUT CONTRACT (0 matches)
Experienced player with international experience (Belgium, Portugal, Türkiye, Spain, United Arab Emirates), Abdoulay Diaby could be tempted by a return home six months after the end of a mixed adventure at Pendikspor (28 matches, 2 goals), in Turkish D1. Having played for LOSC from 2013 to 2015, the Malian international (26 caps, 7 goals) displays a versatility allowing him to play in all positions of the attack, with a burst of speed that is always interesting despite the weight of the years ( 33 years old).
OSCAR PEREA, STRASBOURG (5 matches, 0 goals, 0 assists)
In difficulty in Strasbourg, Oscar Perea has disappointed since his arrival from his native Colombia. Recruited for the significant sum of 5 million euros from Atletico Nacional this summer, the 19-year-old winger displayed too many tactical and physical shortcomings at the level of Ligue 1. The Colombian U23 international (4 selections) being barred by competition and the demands of coach Liam Rosenior, a National loan in a structured club needing his percussion qualities could delight all parties.
AXEL CAMBLAN, Brest (2 matches, 0 goals, 0 assists)
He had already delighted the National during a successful loan to Concarneau in 2023 (16 matches, 1 goal, 3 assists), without managing to confirm in the elite in Brest. Almost not used by Eric Roy this season in a club with growing demands, Axel Camblan displays a different profile, more creative and less athletic than the two previously mentioned, whose level would however represent a real plus for the VAFC. The SB29 will not be closed at a start, and the prospect of returning to the National could please the 21-year-old Breton.
Other tracks: Moussa Doumbia (libre), Rare Ilie (Nice, on loan), Malick Mbaye (Metz, on loan), Clemente Montes (Catholic University)
Enzo PAILOT
Photo credits: Icon Sport/Getty Images
