Pierre Ekwah

Both Celtic and Rangers have been alerted to the availability of a central midfielder this month.
The summer transfer window may be long gone but recruitment staff at Glasgow’s big two should always be looking ahead.
We understand versatile Frenchman Pierre Ekwah had his Saint-Étienne contract terminated by mutual consent back on September 1 and is on the lookout for a new club.
And it is understood both the Hoops and Light Blues have been contacted by the player’s entourage to determine whether or not the top end of the Scottish Premiership could be a viable option for the 23-year-old.
The former Sunderland player can play at centre-half and in the engine room and he made 30 appearances for the French outfit before he departed.
Ekwah is also experienced in the EFL Championship having made 61 appearances for the Black Cats over two years at the Stadium of Light.
It remains to be seen whether either of Scotland’s big two will consider the ex-Ligue 1 as a realistic option to bring in on a free.
However he has interest down south from several clubs with discussions already underway.
Clubs in Italy’s Serie A and in Belgium are also keen.

 

Looks decent and seems to be a holding midfielder.



Wonder why his contract was terminated though, seems a strange one. He only joined Saint Ettiene permanently in mid August and his contract terminated a few weeks later.

He certainly seems to have the profile we are looking for in that he's a physical defensive midfielder and can also fill in at centre half in a pinch.

 

If we are scouting the same players the huns are scouting we are in trouble.

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The why matters here but * do we need a different profiles of midfielder.

 

His movement and body shape is not good. He looks slow and ponderous in that video.

There is a reason why a lot of these guys are on a free, and its not a good reason.

I can see why St.Etienne have passed on him.

 

Another video from his recent games

 

Looks like he'd stroll in to our midfield, plenty out there would..

 

The highlight packages of all of our midfielders would stroll into our midfield

 

I don't know about that..

This guy can at least hold his own in challenges and use a bit of nifty footwork to navigate his way out of trouble. Our midfield gets bullied and outmuscled in the battle plenty..

 

My point is that you can find clips of all of our players looking combative. Infact, I'm pretty sure we could make McGregor look like a ball winning animal.

Not that this guy isn't good, mind, more just emphasizing that highlights usually hide flaws

 

From what I've read since it's not a case of St Etienne passing on him. It's more him finding a loophole to free himself. He was actually a regular starter for them last season. They paid €7m for him to exercise his purchase option a few weeks back but due to their relegation he was seemingly able to get himself released from the contract.

 

Thread there on why he was able to get freed so it's not as if he's a dud that they are trying to offload. It's more he wanted out of St Etienne as he wants to play at a higher level than Ligue 2.

 

Maybe not him, but how many years have we been crying out for a ball winning midfielder?

Can't hurt to take a look. If he's not good enough, move on.

 

I know what you were getting at mate. For me our midfield is stale and has been a problem for a while..

McGregor getting on and losing the legs a touch
Hatate is our creator but has dipped and had far too many games where he's off it. We have no other like for like option really
We've got players in there that I think lack heart, desire and any dynamism..

It's an area that should've been identified more but with how much we had to do in the window, never really was gonna be the main focus of attention..

 

Wouldn't be against it, suits the boards MO of a freebie too.

 

I suggested him in the other thread a few days ago after his contract was terminated

As said above, he wasn’t let go by St Etienne, it was him using the new Diarra ruling to terminate his deal

20MT had a scout from The Athletic on in the Summer to highlight the perfect midfield signing for us, giving 5 options

He had this guy at 1st and was absolutely raving about him. From what I see, a few German clubs sniffed around in the Summer but didn’t make any offers

On a free? In a heartbeat. We need another body in midfield and someone athletic with a defensive mind

 

From what I've read, I'd take him in a heartbeat.

 

Heartbeat, take, etc

 

would this be a club signing,may as well not bother

 

Apparently he's got a stinking attitude according to a Sunderland fan.

https://youtube.com/shorts/KxySmtU13ZY?si=k9nVDogvJKmjlMN-