Saint-Étienne manager ‘expects’ Lucas Stassin to stay at club | OneFootball

AS Saint-Étienne look set to dig their heels in. Despite relegation to Ligue 2, the club want to keep hold of their star asset, Lucas Stassin (20).

As revealed by L’Équipe on Thursday, Les Verts have slapped a €20m price tag on the Belgian, who in his first season in French football excelled, finishing the campaign with 12 goals and five assists in Ligue 1. However, his goals could not prevent ASSE from dropping back down to Ligue 2. They finished the season second from bottom, ahead of Montpellier HSC.

However, despite the setback, Saint-Étienne are not in a precarious financial situation, unlike other relegated sides, Montpellier and Stade de Reims. Due to the takeover from Kilmer Sports Ventures last summer, they are not obliged to sell off key assets, such as Stassin and Zuriko Davitashvili, also valued at around €20m.

They could, therefore, look to retain Stassin, a target for Premier League sides. “I’m expecting Lucas to be there next season,” said Eirik Horneland in a press conference transcribed by Foot Mercato’s Sébastien Denis. “I think he’ll say because he is a good player. He has a contract (until 2028). His situation doesn’t depend on him; it depends on us,” he added. Time will tell whether ASSE’s stance breeds conflict.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle