As MHB returns to competition on Saturday, Karl Konan's future in question

Karl Konan est sous contrat avec Montpellier jusqu'en 2025. Michael Esdourrubailh – Michael Esdourrubailh

The   defender of Montpellier Handball who hosts Dunkirk on Saturday in the quarter-final of the Coupe de France, could leave the club at the end of 2025.

No respite. Less than a week after the closing of the various championships (Europe, Pan-American, Africa), the Montpellier handball players returned to the FDI Stadium on Saturday for the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France against Dunkirk.

Patrice Canayer, whose eleven players had been out and about for two months, only had two days of training, in Sète, to prepare for this meeting. It's a bit tight even if, apart from Yanis Lenne (ankle), all the returnees are fit to play.

Also read: Euro 2024 handball: a decimated MHB with nine players summoned for the competition

As always at this time of year, the coach will have to adapt by carefully distributing playing time. The return of Stas Skube, away from the field since September , is the very good news of the moment. While waiting for better.

The opponent, "will be ready", promises Patrice Canayer: "He was less concerned than us by all these championships and was able to work".

"One of the club's three highest salaries"

Work and also a few sleepless nights, Julien Deljarry has no shortage of them. He strives to prepare for the sequel. 

The president of the MHB should very quickly announce the identity of the future deputy of Erick Mathé, who will succeed Patrice Canayer next June. "It's done, confirms Julien Deljarry. The interested party has given their consent. We're just waiting for the right window to present it to our audience".

Erick Mathé had proposed two names, two technicians with whom he had already worked.

Club officials are also agitating to extend a certain number of players. After a first proposal deemed insufficient, the president returned to the charge on Friday with Kyllian Villeminot.

On this issue, Julien Deljarry wants to be resolutely optimistic. This is less the case with Karl Konan. Under contract until 2025, the new European champion is in high demand. The MHB therefore tried to anticipate external maneuvers.

"We are willing to make an effort. To make Karl one of the three highest earners at MHB. But we can't do better for an almost exclusive defender, explains the president. According to our information, Konan would be very close to signing… for Paris Saint-Germain. Contacted, the player does not wish to comment on the subject for the moment.

Sebastian Karlsson is the other hot topic. Since his arrival in Montpellier last summer, the Swedish winger has been hitting the screen. This has not escaped German clubs, Kiel in particular, who would be ready to break the piggy bank to buy out his contract (until 2026). At the MHB, we are following this with interest. Karlsson's salary could thus be increased. 

Before that, there is a match to win, Saturday against Dunkirk.  

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