Senegalese international Fodé Ballo-Touré’s anticipated transfer to French club AS Saint-Étienne has collapsed following a failure to agree on salary terms.
The left-back, who currently finds himself out of favor at AC Milan, had been linked with a move to the newly promoted Ligue 1 side.
However, discussions between the player and the club have broken down due to his high wage demands.
Ballo-Touré, who has been relegated to AC Milan’s reserve squad for some time, is expected to leave the Italian giants after it became clear that he is no longer part of their long-term plans.
The 26-year-old had been seeking a fresh start elsewhere, with Saint-Étienne expressing interest in acquiring his services.
The French club, which recently returned to Ligue 1 after a successful promotion campaign, had hoped to strengthen their defensive options with Ballo-Touré’s experience.
However, negotiations stumbled over the player’s salary expectations, which Saint-Étienne deemed excessive for their budget.
While Ballo-Touré is used to earning a sizable salary in Italy, Saint-Étienne, operating on more modest financial resources, found themselves unable to meet his demands.
As a result, the club has decided to withdraw from the pursuit of the defender, marking an end to what could have been a promising addition to their squad.
Saint-Étienne’s management, facing the financial realities of a recently promoted club, opted to prioritize fiscal responsibility over securing the player.
“We have decided to move on from this deal,” a club representative confirmed, citing the salary as the primary sticking point.
This development leaves Ballo-Touré in a precarious position as the summer transfer window nears its conclusion.
With AC Milan no longer counting on him for first-team duties and his future in limbo, the Senegalese international will now have to explore other opportunities across Europe.
Despite his lack of playing time at Milan, Ballo-Touré remains a highly regarded talent, especially known for his pace and attacking threat from the left-back position.
He joined Milan from Monaco in 2021 but struggled to secure a regular spot in Stefano Pioli’s starting XI, ultimately prompting his search for a new challenge.
As the transfer market heats up, Ballo-Touré’s situation will be closely watched by clubs in need of a dynamic left-back.
Whether he lowers his wage demands to secure a move remains to be seen, but for now, the door to Saint-Étienne has closed.
The failed move also raises questions about Saint-Étienne’s recruitment strategy as they look to solidify their position in France’s top flight.
The club will likely explore alternative options as they continue preparations for the upcoming Ligue 1 campaign.
