Saint-Etienne still lacks a replacement for Stassin

Saint-Etienne’s summer rebuild left one important gap unresolved: the club did not find a natural replacement for Lucas Stassin. Several weeks after the transfer window closed, coach Ian Cathro is still working without a recognised No. 9, limiting the team’s options when it must break down a deep defence or maintain a regular presence in the penalty area.

Stassin joined Sevilla on September 1 on loan with a purchase option after extending his Saint-Etienne contract to 2029. He left with 23 goals in 66 appearances for the club. Saint-Etienne had pursued a striker until the market closed, and one deal had reached an advanced stage before collapsing during the final hours. The club consequently kept its existing attacking options rather than bringing in a direct successor.

Cardona and Thierno Ballo have been used frequently in the attacking area, while Joshua Duffus provides another option from the bench. The attacking group also included Boakye and Davitashvili in the lineup used after the restart against Montpellier. However, none fully offers Stassin’s profile, with Duffus behind Cardona and Ballo in the early hierarchy.

The squad remains competitive because its collective output has so far compensated for the omission. The issue could become more damaging if Saint-Etienne lose weight in attack, making the unfilled position a likely priority when the winter window opens.