Leeds United reportedly want to sign Clermont Foot attacker Florian Aye.
Clermont Foot boss Pascal Gastien has told Mercato 365 that he thinks Leeds United target Florian Aye will be leaving the club this summer.
Aye, 22, emerged with Auxerre but decided to leave in order to join French rivals Clermont Foot last year, and his move has really paid dividends.
Having struggled for first-team football at Auxerre, Aye has been the main man for Clermont Foot, smashing 17 goals and four assists in 33 league games.
Sadly, that hasn’t put Clermont Foot anywhere near promotion, and that means that they will surely lose their promising young striker when the summer transfer window opens.
According to a report from the Sunday Mirror (28/4; page 68), Leeds United are interested in signing Aye this summer, with Southampton and West Ham United also thought to be keen.
Now, Clermont Foot boss Gastien has admitted that it will be ‘difficult’ to keep Aye, noting that there’s only a slim, slim chance that he stays at the club for next season.
Gastien noted that losing players is part of the game, and believes that any club purchasing Aye won’t regret it – though the striker himself will be looking to make a smart move in terms of playing time, having been frustrated at Auxerre previously.
“It will be difficult to keep him,” said Gastien. “There is a nine out of ten chance that he leaves before next season, but I’m not complaining. It’s part of the game and it’s legitimate for players to go higher when they have the opportunity. If he has to leave, the club that will take him will not be wrong,” he added.
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