St Etienne manager Eirik Horneland has played down talk of Lucas Stassin joining West Ham United, insisting the young striker is staying put, at least for now.
The Belgian forward missed the start of pre-season training, prompting speculation around a possible move away. But Horneland says it’s nothing to do with transfers and everything to do with injury recovery.
“He’ll Be Back on June 26th”
Horneland told Ma Ligue 2 that Stassin underwent foot surgery earlier this month and is currently on the mend. “Firstly, Lucas Stassin had an operation on June 5th. He will be back and available on June 26th I think,” he said.
The twenty-year-old’s name has cropped up in connection with a handful of clubs this summer, including the Irons, but his coach doesn’t see him leaving anytime soon.
“I expect Lucas Stassin to be there next season, of course. I think he will stay. I think he will stay because he is a very good player, he is twenty years old, he has a long contract with us, and we spent a lot of money to have him with us,” Horneland added.
He pointed to a strong finish to the season after a rocky start in Ligue 1:
“He played top football over the last six months with us. Before that, he was struggling in Ligue 1. I think he had a great end to the season and he must build on that.”
As for whether Stassin could push for a move, Horneland made it clear who holds the cards: “He has a contract until the summer of 2028. It does not depend on him, it depends on us.”
Relegation Brings Price Drop
According to Hammers News, St Etienne’s drop into Ligue 2 has forced them to lower Stassin’s price tag. The forward is now available for around £18 million, which could open the door for clubs looking for attacking reinforcements.
A source at West Ham reportedly played down talk of ongoing negotiations, stating the earlier reports were “wide of the mark.” Still, the club’s stance appears to be softening slightly, with the same source now saying, “anything is possible.”
Hammers Face Heavy Competition
West Ham are far from the only club keeping tabs. Hammers News say Sporting Lisbon, RB Leipzig, Rennes, Marseille, Lille and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all in the mix.
Sporting, in particular, are expected to lose Viktor Gyokeres this window, and Stassin is viewed as a potential replacement.
Stats and Recognition
Despite St Etienne’s relegation, Stassin turned heads with 17 goal contributions in just 23 Ligue 1 starts. His form saw him named in the Rising Stars’ Under-21 Team of the Season alongside Lamine Yamal and Desire Doue.
He’s been described as a hybrid between a number ten and a number nine: versatile, technical, and a goal threat. The kind of profile that would fit right into Graham Potter’s system, if the Hammers decide to make a move.
