The Brazilian winger signed a five-year deal with Les Aubistes back in 2022 but was immediately loaned out to PSV Eindhoven, where he made eight first-team appearances, registering two assists. This season, he has been loaned out to another City Football Group (CFG) club, Girona, who are flying high in La Liga. The club are second, with Sávio scoring five goals and registering five assists. 

READ: SÁVIO – ESTAC TROYES’ RECORD TRANSFER WHO THEY WILL NEVER SEE

According to Fabrizio Romano, those performances have been enough to convince Manchester City to bring the Brazilian youth international to the Etihad Stadium. Internal discussions are currently taking place to sign Sávio for next season. Other Premier League clubs, as well as Bundesliga clubs, are waiting with €30m proposals. 

Regardless, Sávio will complete the current season with Girona. It now looks unlikely, as expected, that Sávio will ever play for Troyes. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

In a statement, transcribed by L’Équipe, Troyes stated that “it is proud to announce the appointment of David Guion as the new first team coach. The manager arrives with extensive experience in French football, with more than 200 matches managed in Ligue 2 and Ligue 1.”

The former Bordeaux and Reims manager was meant to take charge of the club on Monday but this decision was postponed for an as of yet undeclared reason. 

Despite the interim manager, Alou Diarra winning both of his matches at the helm, it was only ever a delay in the schedule and not a change in plan for Guion to become the next manager of the Ligue 2 club. 

However, L’Équipe suggests that Diarra’s brief but successful run could have earned him a role within Guion’s backroom staff. More details are likely to follow regarding the composition of Guion’s management team when he is presented to the press on Wednesday following his first training session with the squad. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

This comes at an inopportune time for the troubled team as they sit in the relegation zone after a poor start to life in Ligue 2. 

The former Bordeaux coach was scheduled to have a press conference in his new role at the club on Monday afternoon before meeting his players for his first training session in charge but both of which have been cancelled. 

The reason behind this delay is yet to be made apparent as the club have not communicated why they have altered their plans, but it seems as if the appointment is being held up by negotiations with the previous manager Patrick Kisnorbo. 

Until this can be sorted, Alou Diarra will remain in charge of Troyes on an interim basis for the upcoming game against Amiens. Diarra’s temporary reign has already secured a victory after beating Bordeaux 1-0. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Troyes, who after last season’s relegation to the second division currently sit in the relegation zone, are without a manager since parting ways with Patrick Kisnorbo last month. The Australian, who replaced Bruno Irles in November 2022, had been under pressure for some time having only won three of his 40 games in charge of Les Aubistes. 

Like Kisnorbo, Guion also lost his job this season after being sacked by Bordeaux in October. He has been in discussions with City Football Group in recent days and whilst some details still need to be rectified, Guion looks likely to take the role at the Stade de l’Aube. However, his arrival will not be confirmed before Saturday’s trip to face Bordeaux. It will instead be Alou Diarra, the manager of ESTCA’s reserve team, who will take control of the team.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Troyes have been in freefall ever since Kisnorbo replaced Bruno Irles as manager. At the time of the Australian’s arrival at the Stade de l’Aube, Troyes were 13th in Ligue 1. Following last season’s relegation, they now sit 17th in Ligue 2 and in the relegation zone. Kisnorbo, who was essentially an internal appointment, having made the move from fellow City Football Group club Melbourne City, won just three of his 40 games in charge of the club (13 draws and 23 defeats). In recent weeks, the club’s fans have been protesting and have boycotted home and away fixtures. 

Les Aubiens are also out of the Coupe de France after being knocked out by National 1 strugglers Epinal last weekend. Whoever replaces Kisnorbo will be tasked with preventing Tryoes from back-to-back relegations. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

In 38 games as manager of Troyes, Kisnorbo has just three wins. Between the return of Ligue 1 football after the Winter World Cup and the end of the season, the club won just once in the league, ultimately finishing 19th. They have just one win so far this campaign; only bottom side Valenciennes have fewer.

However, despite Kisnorbo’s 7.8% winning record, he remains at the Stade de l’Aube. The former Melbourne City manager represented essentially an internal appointment when he took over from Bruno Irles. Ferran Soriano, the Managing Director of Manchester City, was key in taking Kisnorbo from one City Football Group (CFG) club to another when the latter made the move from Australia to France.

Former Troyes manager describes relegation as ‘a crushing failure’

It is perhaps Soriano’s proximity to Kisnorbo that is keeping the latter at the Ligue 2 club. There aren’t too many other explanations. Soriano charged Kisnorbo with bringing Manchester City’s style to the club, something his predecessor disagreed with, as he told L’Équipe in May.

“For the management, the sporting project had to go more quickly towards the City project. There was a difference in points of view. I was convinced that it was incompatible with this team in Ligue 1,” said the former Troyes manager. “Today, we can’t say that we’re watching Manchester City (when we’re watching Troyes) or that we’re exploiting the maximum potential from the players.”

Irles went on to describe Troyes’ relegation as a “crushing failure”, an analysis that certainly remains pertinent today. He did nonetheless say that his sacking was “initiated internally at ESTAC, and not by the City Group,” with whom he says he had a “cordial and constructive” relationship until the end, notably with Brian Marwood.

The City Group were, according to Irles, reticent to move on from the Frenchman last season, and they seem equally as entrenched with their stance on Kisnorbo. The City Group arrived in Troyes to take stock in early October, and along with the rest of the board, took the decision to retain their confidence in Kisnorbo. 

Fans protest… and then boycott

The decision came just two days after a fan protest against Kisnorbo’s presence at the club, during a match at the Stade de l’Aube against Saint-Étienne. “Kisnorbo out” placards littered the stands with a large banner reading “Did [sic] you understand now?” also directed at the Australian manager. 

The fan protest has since taken a whole new dimension. The fan group Magic Troyes 1997 released a statement in late October calling for a boycott of the club. “Going to the stadium, knowing beforehand the result of the match is no longer possible! It is about time that the players and the management take responsibility for the club’s catastrophic situation. Recognising your errors, is that really a failure? It is for this reason that as of today, we, as a group, have decided to boycott home and away games,” read a statement from the group. 

The movement has been called “Objective: Empty Stadium! Save our Club” and it has been largely adhered to. The trip to the island of Corsica is certainly a difficult one, but only two Troyes fans were in attendance as they saw their side lose 1-0 to AC Ajaccio last Saturday. 

An unsustainable situation

The situation between the club and supporters was so tense on 4th October that extra security was drafted in for an open training session. However, Kisnorbo seems to have immunity from the dire situation. He has struck a defiant tone in recent weeks, saying “he won’t give up”.

“I want to create something for the future,” said Kisnorbo after a 2-2 draw against Paris FC in late October. The Australian frequently points out the youthfulness in his side, not as an excuse, but as a sort of validation that their mere presence is a sign of success. “We have 12/13 academy players, which is fantastic. It shows what we are doing at Troyes is good,” he said in early October. But can losing every week be good for the youngsters’ confidence, or their development? 

Whilst Kisnorbo tries to put a positive spin on a club in freefall, there can be no denying that the current situation is unsustainable. The decision to keep Kisnorbo, essentially one taken by CFG, who are as an institution, reticent to make the manager the fall guy in such situations, is causing fractions that are tearing Troyes apart. Kisnorbo can try and dress it up as best as he can, but the reality is that big decisions, decisions that CFG are perhaps reticent to make, may have to be taken if Troyes are to avoid back-to-back relegations.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

City Football Group are set to discuss the future of the former Melbourne City boss on Tuesday. However, it looks ominous for Kisnorbo. Even if Troyes had beaten Saint Étienne on Saturday, they lost 1-0, his future had already been decided according to L’Est Éclair. Reports following Troyes’ defeat to ASSE on Saturday have described the Australian’s position as “very weak“. 

In the aftermath of the match, when facing the media, Kisnorbo was asked about his future, he replied by saying “The most important thing for me is the players. My role is to protect them. Concerning me, contact the people concerned.” When asked to comment on Kisnorbo’s future, Troyes’ general manager Mattijs Mander said “Not today“. With fans restless about the club’s form, City Football Group’s final decision on Tuesday will be highly anticipated.

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Tahrat has been a free agent since the expiry of his contract at Qatari side Al-Gharafa SC earlier this summer. However, prior to moving to the Middles East, initially to Saudi Arabian side Abha, and then to Qatar, the Algerian centre-back accrued a great wealth of experience in French football. Tahrat has played for RC Lens, SCO Angers, Valenciennes FC, Red Star FC, Paris FC, Évry FC, Sainte Geneviève and Lille OSC’s B-team. 

Capped by Algeria 15 times, Tahrat has racked up 80 appearances in Ligue 2, 14 in Ligue 1, and 33 in the National division. He now looks set to return to France and join Troyes, who are looking to bounce back after last season’s relegation to Ligue 2. After reaching a verbal agreement to join Patrick Kisnorbo’s side, the transfer is set to be completed on Monday, according to Sports Zone. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The 27-year-old Guinea-Bissau international was arguably the Aubois side’s best player last season. Unfortunately, his 12 goals and four assists were not enough to save the City Football Group-owned Troyes from a Ligue 2 relegation.

https://twitter.com/OL/status/1696915782502936989

Lyon were in the market for an experienced striker in order to provide competition for returning hero Alexandre Lacazette, who notched a remarkable 27 Ligue 1 goals last season. The former Arsenal forward will miss the next two league games through suspension. Meanwhile, Lyon are looking to offload struggling Swedish striker Amin Sarr to Wolfsburg in what would be a €15m deal.  Les Gones will reportedly now focus their attention on the signing of a defensive midfielder during the final days of the summer transfer window, which closes on Friday.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Despite a contract that runs until 2025, Baldé was expected to leave the Ligue 2 side months after their relegation to the second-tier. The striker was arguably Troyes’ best player last season, logging 12 goals and four assists. Lyon and the City Football Group-owned club have reportedly shaken hands over a season-long loan including a €8m permanent option for Baldé. The plane carrying the striker from Troyes to Lyon landed at around 9:20pm.

L’Equipe adds that Lyon will now try to wrap up the arrival of a defensive midfielder with Real Betis’ Guido Rodriguez and AC Milan’s Rade Krunic touted as priority targets.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval