Metz trying to negotiate discount on Chelsea loanee Victorien Angban — report

Chelsea midfielder Victorien Angban moved to French second division club FC Metz last summer in his fourth assignment as a member of the Loan Army. And the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international did quite well for himself, starting most games as The Maroons won promotion from Ligue 2 to the French top flight, leading almost wire-to-wire.

Angban’s loan contract included a €6m purchase clause, which was reportedly set to be activated automatically upon winning the division, but now Metz are apparently in the process of negotiating a lower transfer fee. The €6m would be a club-record purchase after all, and while that may sound like a pittance for Chelsea, it’s anything but for the club from northeast France, who were in the third division (albeit briefly) not that long ago.

But now they’re heading back to Ligue 1 and luckily for them, Angban wants to stay for good and is hoping a deal can be worked out.

“I feel good here on a personal level. I hope everything will be fine.”

“Currently I’m still waiting to hear from Metz and their option [to make my move permanent]. The higher-ups at the club are in talks with Chelsea to try and keep me. If both parties agree, I would like to stay. I want to play in Ligue 1 with Metz.”

“Chelsea followed me with regularity, they called me a lot, but the chiefs at Metz want me absolutely. I hope that they will come to an agreement.”

-Victorien Angban; source: Goal

Despite his success and Chelsea’s transfer ban, Angban has little to no chance of actually making Chelsea’s first team, so it’s in everyone’s interest to work out a deal suitable for all (let’s not forget FIFA’s incoming loan rule changes either) — even if that means getting less than what was initially negotiated between the two clubs.