Saint-Étienne Monitoring Maccabi Netanya Midfielder Bassam Zaroura

French club Saint-Étienne, currently leading the second division of French football and aiming for promotion, is reportedly tracking Maccabi Netanya midfielder Bassam Zaroura. The 23-year-old has impressed in the Israeli Premier League, prompting the French club to send scouts on at least two occasions to observe him. Zaroura previously played for Maccabi Haifa's youth academy and made one senior appearance before a disciplinary incident led to his transfer to Maccabi Netanya for 950,000 shekels plus a 25% sell-on clause in August 2023.

Last season marked a breakout year for Zaroura, who scored 10 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions. Maccabi Netanya is expected to demand a transfer fee between 1.5 and 2 million euros for the player. Saint-Étienne, which already has Mahmoud Jaber on its roster but is concerned about his fitness for consistent play, is reportedly open to acquiring another Israeli player.

Saint-Étienne's midfield currently features Hungarian Aaron Tshibamba and Slovenian Tamir Swindell. If Tshibamba, considered the best player in the second division this season, receives an offer, it could accelerate Zaroura's potential move in January. Any potential transfer would likely involve a long-term contract of four years, though negotiations are not yet at that stage, with the club currently in an observation phase.