Montpellier and its president, who refutes any contact with the former Monaco striker, are studying the arrival of an attacker and the replacement of defender Maksimovic at the dawn of the winter transfer window.
A media explosion launched the Montpellier transfer window. At the end of last week, the rumor of the recruitment of former Monaco international striker Wissam Ben Yedder, free since June, was mentioned by various media and precipitated a volley of green wood in view of his legal troubles.
“It was never a lead”, strongly denies the president of Montpellier Laurent Nicollin.
“OIt’s a big deal, but we’ve never discussed finances with Ben Yedder. If every time someone calls to offer a player, we have to justify whether we take him or not… I know that we are considered a club of idiots, worthless and incompetent, but if we take someone one, we want an active player present in a club. We’re last, we’re not going to wait two months before it’s competitive.”, argument-t-il.
Attacker in the sights and essential sales
If Montpellier does not covet Ben Yedder, it is indeed looking for an attacker as Jean-Louis Gasset agrees. “We are looking for a player of this type.”, admitted the Montpellier technician on Saturday after the defeat in Lyon (1-0).
At the dawn of the transfer window (January 1 – February 3), the MHSC defined its needs to try to save its skin in Ligue 1. Strengthen an attack lacking in efficiency (15 goals) and perhaps compensate for the serious injury Serbian defender Nikola Maksimovic, unavailable until the end of the season. To rework his workforce, Laurent Nicollin sets a financial prerequisite: “We need transfers and money in the coffers to be able to do something.”.
Kouyaté and Nordin on the right track
Wednesday, four days before Angers’ reception at La Mosson, Téji Savanier, sitting on a ball, observed the training session alongside coach Jean-Louis Gasset. “Sick”the playmaker did not take part in the work on set pieces in particular.
Conversely, defender “Kiki” Kouyaté, who is completing his convalescence after knee surgery, participated in a good part of the session. And striker Arnaud Nordin, absent in Lyon due to a sprained ankle contracted last week, carried out specific work with the physiotherapist. Not far from the full-back Lucas Mincarelli and the young striker Othmane Maamma, closely followed by the staff.
No approach from Rennes for Chotard
If the summer of 2023 had allowed them to be bailed out with the record transfer of Elye Wahi (€30M to Lens) and Stephy Mavididi (Leicester), Montpellier pocketed nothing during the last summer market. Joris Chotard’s contacts with Wolfsburg collapsed, while Mousa Tamari, another market value, did not have an offer compatible with his European aspirations.
The Olympic vice-champion Chotard (23 years old) and the Jordanian international Tamari (27 years old), under contract until 2026, remain the most attractive elements from Hérault.“There are contacts, approaches, but we have no official offer”, confides Laurent Nicollin. Neither Rennes, of executive president Arnaud Pouille, who is rebuilding in the middle of the season, nor Hoffenheim have yet approached him for Chotard.
Maksimovic’s injury reshuffles the cards, Bamo Meïté not abandoned
On the lookout for the departure of one of its major players, Montpellier is ready to draw and provide a first reinforcement. A priori from an attacker. But Nikola Maksimovic’s injury reshuffles the cards. The Serbian defender (33 years old), victim of a disinsertion of the ischio of the right thigh, had to cut short his Montpellier experience two months after his arrival and weakened a central defense suspended from the return to competition of “Kiki” Kouyaté. The Malian international (27 years old) is preparing to rejoin the group in January after the first six months without playing.
“With Maksimovic’s injury, we can think about taking someone at the back, while Becir Omeragic can also play in the middle”, enlightens the Montpellier president. If the former very offensive winger or defender of Marseille Bouna Sarr, looking for a way out at Bayern Munich, circulates here or there, Montpellier is aiming for another profile.
“If we have to take someone, we would rather hire a stopper, who can play right back,” describes Laurent Nicollin, approaching with a view to a loan with option to purchase for Falaye Sacko, wishing to leave the club. “(why) Meïté, whom we contacted, has this profile, but OM wants to sell it. You never know what can happen at the end of the transfer window.”finally assures the pailladin president, on alert until the beginning of February.
