There is panic in Saint-Étienne. While the Greens, currently 3rd in Ligue 2, are struggling to climb back into Ligue 1, their playing master and essential technical leader Zuriko Davitashvili (8 goals and 1 assist in 16 matches) is more sought after than ever. If Fenerbahçe is in the running and Besiktas was a few weeks ago, competition has intensified with the entry of Everton and especially Benfica to snatch the Georgian under contract until June 2028 with the Greens.
Despite these prestigious interests, the Saint-Etienne management (Kilmer Sports) is inflexible: selling its Georgian international this winter is out of the question. The club considers Davitashvili as the essential element to validate the rise at the end of the season. The standoff is only just beginning, especially since the player and those around him are not necessarily on the same wavelength. The transfer window is likely to be very long for Saint-Etienne supporters.
