Posted on December 29, 2021 at 8:30 p.m. by Dan Marciano The recruitment of a center forward will be ASSE's top priority for the next winter transfer window. Several profiles have been targeted by Pascal Dupraz, but some files could give leaders a hard time. Claude Puel failed to keep his post until the end of the season. The technician was dismissed after the heavy defeat of his team against Rennes (0-5) on December 5 and gave way to Pascal Dupraz. On a commando mission at ASSE, the former coach of Caen and TFC has six months to put this historic club back on its feet and avoid a decent one in Ligue 2, which could be disastrous for the leaders and the finances. But to achieve his ends, Dupraz hope for fresh blood. “I have the weakness to think that I have recipes to advance this team. If we improve this group, I won't say no. There is the CAN, a young group, you have to measure what a club represents. At 18 or 20 years old, that can impress ”the technician had launched during his presentation. The Forez team could start looking for a center-forward capable of making up for the absences of Denis Bouanga and Wahbi Khazri , but also the likely departure of Ignacio Ramirez , put aside. A file set up as a priority by those in charge, ready to put aside certain opportunities such as Hatem Ben Arfa or even Clément Grenier to solve this project. If we are to believe information from But Football Club, a case is very advanced. This is Bakary Sako . Aged 33 and free to join the team of his choice, the striker, who trained with the first team in November, could be offered by ASSE a six-month freelance in the next few days. “I observe and realize that he is an excellent footballer. We know that he is free and that he plays in a sector of play which is among those that must be improved at ASSE ”declared Pascal Dupraz about him. Trained in the Greens, the player could be the second signing after Joris Gnagnon . But that's not all, as ASSE is reportedly considering enlisting the services of another attacker. And several names appear on the short-list of Pascal Dupraz . In recent weeks, the name of Jackson Mukela (Standard de Liège) appeared in the sights of ASSE . But the Congolese striker would not be the priority of the Saint-Etienne club. Still according to But Football Club, officials from Saint-Etienne are working on the recruitment of Jean-Philippe Mateta . Passed by OL , the striker could arrive in the form of a six-month loan in Ligue 1, provided that his club, Crystal Palace, provide a effort and agrees to pay part of his salary. Otherwise, the ASSE may have no choice but to abandon this track. If this fails, the Greens could then focus on Lys Mousset . Now at Sheffield United , the 25-year-old could also arrive on a six-month loan. Mousset will then be free to join the team of his choice as his contract expires next June. While they have to deal with limited resources, the Saint-Etienne club do not intend to stand idly by next January and do intend to raise the bar. 
Bakary Sako close to ASSE
The Mateta and Mousset slopes explored
Mercato | Mercato – ASSE: Dupraz is working hard to solve this colossal project!
