Modeste to Saint-Etienne without purchase option: "We hope he finds his form again"
With the six-month-loan agreement apparently not including a purchase clause, the 1. FC Köln evidently expect their veteran striker back at the end of the season.
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Late confirmation of the loan deal to send 32-year-old attacker Anthony Modeste to France for the duration of the season included no mention of a purchase option. Cologne sporting director Horst Heldt instead released a statement indicating support for the loyal fan-favorite who has scored 50 goals in a Geißböcke tricot.
"Tony has not has an easy time [since returning from a stint in China," Heldt noted, "When the opportunity for a move arose on short notice, we spoke with him candidly. We see a change in environment and a move back to his home country as a real chance. We hope that he gets a lot of playing time, scores his goals, and finds his form again."
Modeste remains a crowd-pleaser in the cathedral city and it seems unlikely that the club would part company with him until he had a chance to experience a curtain call in front of live fans. It should be noted, however, that the urgent need for the Domstädter to reduce their payroll constituted as important as any other factor in proceeding with the transaction.
Modeste's salary for the second half of the season may have been as much as €1 million. Should the club get relegated, they may not be able to retain the veteran's services whilst playing in Bundesliga Two. On his way to the club his father Guy once played for, Modeste released only a subdued statement.
"I'm looking forward to my time in my home country and getting as much playing time as possible," the single sentence statement released by the club read.
