According to L’Equipe, Montpellier are in ‘advanced discussions’ to seal the signing of NUFC midfielder Henri Saivet – with it set to be a loan move with an obligation to buy for €5m (£4.4m).
This all comes from one of France’s leading outlets (L’Equipe), so his move back to Ligue 1 is appearing highly likely.
Montpellier are in 'advanced discussions' with #NUFC to secure a loan deal with an option to buy to for €5m (£4.4m) for Henri Saivet (@lequipe). pic.twitter.com/wZt1VtKJhR
— Black&WhiteBarmy (@BlackWhiteBarmy) January 17, 2018
Rafa admitted recently that the club were not interested in loaning out players without replacements, however Saivet has rarely been involved in matchday squads this season.
There also appears to be an agreement in place which means the club will recoup almost £4.5m for him in the summer – just under the £5m we paid for him when he arrived from Bordeaux two years ago this month.
His exit makes sense. It may be an initial loan deal until the summer (so no transfer fee received for now), but it’s another space freed up in the 25-man squad and a chunk off the wage bill. These factors may be helpful in persuading Ashley to hand Rafa the odd signing this month.
Sounds as if Henri Saivet to Montpellier is a goer. Outgoing at #nufc should clear the way for incomings (finally)….
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) January 17, 2018
Aside from his free-kick at West Ham last month, Saivet really has struggled to make an impact on Tyneside, however his attitude throughout cannot be questioned. A move makes sense for all parties.
