FC Goa targets Lamine Sané - Market Value higher than Mourtada Fall

Senegal international Lamine Sané has become the latest name linked to Indian Super League outfit, FC Goa. According to reports, the 33-year-old defender has been approached by the Gaurs as a potential replacement for Mourtada Fall.

Mourtada Fall, after a long deliberation didn’t extend contract with FC Goa and decided to move to Mumbai City FC, following his former coach Sergio Lobera. That created a big void in the Goan’s defence and the ISL league champions are looking to plug the hole with another reliable defender. Lamine Sané, who has 35 international caps to his name, could be their man.

The 6’4” tall defender, who currently plies his trade for Eredivisie club FC Utrecht, is valued at EUR 475K. Lamine Sane has vast experience behind him, having played for the likes of Bundesliga club SV Werder Bremen, French giants FC Girondins Bordeaux, Orlando City SC in the Major League Soccer among the notable ones.

Sane had spent seven seasons at Bordeaux, making 188 appearances in the French Ligue 1 between 2009 and 2016 before making the switch to Bundesliga where he featured 38 times for Werder Bremen in two seasons. Sane eventually made the move to the US in 2018 and solidified a problematic backline of Orlando City.

Surprisingly, Sane had his contract option for the 2020 season declined by Orlando as part of the end-of-season roster decisions. He then moved to FC Utrecht earlier this year where he made just a solitary appearance.

FC Goa are scheduled to lock horns with the big boys of the AFC Champions League this season and having a defender of Sane’s stature will be the perfect reinforcement the team needs. The towering 6-foot-4 defender will bring the much-needed muscle to the Gaurs defence and would be an upgrade from Mourtada Fall.

With FC Goa also in the hunt for Roozbeh Cheshmi, the duo could form an impregnable pair in the heart of Goa’s defence if both the deals go through.