Saint-Étienne’s management have identified QPR midfielder Jonathan Varane as a replacement for Pierre Ekwah.
That’s according to Evect. They report that the French side will look to take Varane from QPR this month. ASSE have been keen for a while and their interest was pushed in December, ahead of the window opening.
The Ligue 2 side have a clear need to reinforce in midfield in this window, particularly in defensive midfield. That role had been filled by Pierre Ekwah, but he’s refused to play and the matter is likely to be settled in court. Until that point, his career is on hold.
That’s left Saint-Étienne with a hole to fill and they’re looking to do so, turning their attention to Loftus Road. While manager Eirik Horneland has stated he doesn’t expect new players to arrive, work is underway to make it happen.
The French side are capable of paying a transfer fee or agreeing to a loan with an option to buy. With this in mind, they’ve contacted QPR in the last few days to discuss Varane.
Varane is a regular for Julien Stéphan at QPR
He’s having a ‘stellar season’ under Julien Stéphan and Saint-Étienne have taken notice. Enquiries about him have been renewed and he’s on their shortlist. That list contains around five different options.
QPR haven’t ruled out a move but will demand a ‘hefty’ price tag for their man. He’s currently valued at around €1.4m, so it’s likely they want considerably more than that.
Saint-Étienne are fourth in Ligue 2 and battling for promotion to France’s top flight. Meanwhile, QPR still have a reasonable shot at the play-offs and a potential rise to the Premier League.
