Breakthrough on the cards? How HSV talent Soumahoro’s loan is progressing | OneFootball

When HSV loaned Aboubaka Soumahoro to AS Saint-Étienne at the beginning of February, the plan was defined quite clearly.

The credo was: Soumahoro must play—and ideally in every match! However, a few weeks later, the initial interim assessment is rather sobering.

Originally, the HSV management had two clear preferred scenarios in mind. Either the 21-year-old would return to Hamburg with valuable playing minutes under his belt and make a fresh push for the Bundesliga squad. Or Soumahoro would impress so much in France that Saint-Étienne would exercise the agreed purchase option for five million euros. Currently, however, there is little to suggest that either of these models will become reality.

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HSV expects Soumahoro to return

Because the start for the central defender went as poorly as possible. Due to injury, Soumahoro initially had to pause and missed precisely the phase in which his new club was taking off on the pitch. Three consecutive wins catapulted Saint-Étienne to second place in the Ligue 2 table, which at the end of the season would mean promotion. Accordingly, there is currently little need to change anything in a functioning defense.

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At least Soumahoro has now been able to take his first steps. He made his debut in the youth round against Marseille, followed by his first call-up to the professional squad. However, in the 2-1 victory against Stade Laval, the HSV loanee spent the entire match on the bench. He still awaits his first competitive appearance for the professionals.

Time is slowly becoming the decisive factor. Only ten league games remain before a decision will be made about Soumahoro’s future. According to Mopo information, hardly anyone at Volkspark currently expects Saint-Étienne to exercise the purchase option in full. A renegotiation or the return of the talent to Hamburg seems more likely.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.