AS Monaco close in on Matthis Abline in €25m Nantes deal
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
AS Monaco are finalising a transfer for FC Nantes striker Matthis Abline, with the fee reported at €25 million plus €5 million in performance bonuses.
AS Monaco are in advanced talks to sign 23-year-old striker Matthis Abline from FC Nantes, with a deal understood to be worth €25 million plus up to €5 million in add-ons. Final details are still being negotiated, but the move appears close to completion as the club looks to strengthen its attack ahead of the new Ligue 1 season.
The fee has raised eyebrows among some supporters, given that the club is operating under tight wage-bill constraints and remains under pressure to sell players before buying. Abline finished last season as one of Nantes' most consistent attacking threats, and Monaco's recruitment team has identified him as a profile that fits both their playing style and their financial model - a younger, sell-on asset rather than a marquee arrival.
For a club that has won the French title eight times and is working to close the gap on Paris Saint-Germain, the calculation appears to be that Abline's age and development potential justify the outlay. Whether the deal represents sound business will depend largely on how quickly he adapts to the demands of a Champions League-chasing squad at the Stade Louis II.