Ligue 1: Karamoh expected, Sagnan has taken his first steps and could start very quickly with the MHSC

Yann Karamoh serait prêté par le Torino, où il évolue depuis l'été 2022. MAXPPP – Claudio Benedetto/LiveMedia/ip

On the last day of the winter transfer window, this Thursday, February 1, the MHSC should register an offensive reinforcement while its recruit, defender Modibo Sagnan, trained for the first time at Grammont. nbsp;

This is not official. But it might not be long. Barring a last minute turnaround, Montpellier HSC should record this Thursday, the last day of the winter transfer window, the arrival of Yann Karamoh. This versatile offensive player would add to the reinforcement already acquired in recent hours from defender Modibo Sagnan.  

Michel Der Zakarian confirmed this recruitment this Thursday at a press conference. "He's traveling today, I hope we can sort all this out", a specified the Hérault coach. 

Karamoh "wanted to return to France"

Karamoh (25 years old), former French Espoirs international (4 selections, 1 goal), would be loaned with option to buy by Torino, where he is not He has only played 11 matches this season without scoring. The native of Abidjan joined the Turin club in the summer of 2022 from Parma.

#football ⚽ Adams incertain "lombalgie" selon Der Zak, privé de Nordin."Karamoh voyage aujourd'hui, j'ai discuté avec lui,il avait envie de revenir". Sagnan s'est entraîné avec le groupe, apte à débuter à Rennes samedi #TeamMHSC #SRFCMHSC

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) February 1, 2024

Karamoh made himself known in Caen, where he was trained and performed during the 2016-2017 season (5 goals, 4 assists). To the point of catching the eye of Inter Milan who then loaned him to Bordeaux then Parma.

Profile "versatile" according to Michel Der Zakarian, Karamoh likes "to play behind the attacker or on the sides". "He has the characteristics of Arnaud (Nordin) , Tanguy (Coulibaly)", details the Montpellier coach who was able to speak with the former Caen player. "He wanted to return to France. It's up to him to show his qualities. He has a lot, he demonstrated it in Caen, in Bordeaux", Der Zak wants to believe.

"Yeboah's problem is that he didn'scored"

This recruitment follows the departure of Kelvin Yeboah (15 appearances, 1 goal), who returned to Genoa after his loan was canceled after six very unconvincing months in Hérault. "Yeboah made some interesting returns. The problem is that he didn't score, he had situations, held back the technician. It's happening ;#39;is arrested. He wanted to leave too, he wanted to play."

With this very possible arrival of Yann Karamoh, Montpellier would therefore not record the arrival of a professional center forward. And this, while Akor Adams is less efficient and the initial intention was to strengthen the position. "There is Wahbi (Khazri) who can play, the young people from the center, the little Junior (Ndiaye). We make do with what we have. They say that we don't let young people play. They will have their chance, it's up to them to seize it", retorts Michel Der Zakarian.

Sagnan "more muscular" that'Estève and "ready to start" 

Since Thursday, the latter has been able to see his new defender at work: Modibo Sagnan. The former Olympic international – he played in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics with Téji Savanier – took part in training in Grammont this morning. Compensating for the departure of Maxime Estève, whose signing at Burnely (Premier League) is expected at any moment. 

"Max had initial thoughts of leaving. The club was happy with the amount (12 M€ excluding bonus, Editor's note). We let him go. Good luck to him as I said". Der Zak will now rely on Sagnan who we had already seen. We revised it and validated it. His profile is different, he is more muscular (than Estève). He is also left-handed and smaller but he has a good head game, he is rough on the man", he explains.

"The goal was to replace Max, we couldn't stay with three central defenders. It was not enough", adds the coach of an MHSC who had considered the recruitment of Serge-Philippe Raux Yao (Rodez, L2) but preferred the experience at this level of Sagnan, the transfer of which would amount to approximately 3 M€.  

Suspense for another recruit ?

After training, Sagnan could quickly experience his first minutes with La Paillade, probably as early as Saturday in Rennes. "He was playing with Utrecht the last few weekends. He has already played with three (defenders). He is ready to start", says Der Zak.

With these two reinforcements, the MHSC could have finished with its winter transfer window. Unless there's a surprise ? "I don't know. We already have to manage to do it (Yann Karamoh)", affirmed Der Zak, leaving a semblance of suspense hovering. 

Stambouli, “it was discussed”

Midfielder or defender Benjamin Stambouli, trained in &agrav; Montpellier, and 2012 French champion, will return to France after years in Germany and Turkey. But the now ex-captain of Adana Demirspor, with whom he terminated his contract. his contract, will not return to Hérault. Expected &agrav; Reims, "it wasé question" at the MHSC, confirmedé Michel Der Zakarian, Thursday. "Çit did not succeed because we did not decide what to do. to take it, that's all, he said. "But it wasn't him or Sagnan, it had nothing to do with him. have".