News Focus
- Monaco want to make Wout Faes and Simon Adingra’s moves permanent but cannot afford current fees
- Belgian defender Faes has a €7.5m option while winger Adingra carries a €17m price tag
- Lack of Champions League revenue and poor French TV rights deal limit Monaco’s budget
- Both players arrived on loan in January and have impressed since joining the Ligue 1 side
- Alternative loan deals could be arranged, particularly for Faes whose Leicester contract expires in 2025
AS Monaco are eager to retain two key loan signings from the January window. However, the Ligue 1 club must secure lower transfer fees to make the deals happen.
The Principality side have taken a liking to both Wout Faes and Simon Adingra. The Belgian centre-back joined from Leicester City, while the winger arrived from Sunderland. Both players have made positive impressions since their mid-season arrivals.
Current financial pressures are forcing Monaco back to the negotiating table. The club missed out on qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League. This failure, combined with falling television revenues in French football, has tightened the purse strings significantly.
Faes currently has a buy clause set at €7.5 million. This figure now looks steep for Monaco given their budget limits. Leicester’s recent drop into League One has not lowered the asking price, though the Foxes defender is entering the final year of his contract.
Adingra faces a similar situation. His agreement contains a €17 million purchase option. Monaco view this valuation as too costly to trigger at present.
Club officials are preparing to hold fresh talks with both Leicester and Sunderland. They hope to arrange reduced fees or possibly extend the loan arrangements for another campaign. Securing Faes on a temporary deal again appears feasible even though his contract with the English side runs out in 12 months.