Former French international defensive midfielder Yann M’Vila has reached an agreement to join St Étienne on a free transfer, according to RMC.
The 27-year-old has agreed to the move in large part because of his relationship with Jean-Louis Gasset, who he worked with during his France national team days, and has decided to make considerable financial sacrifices in order to enact the deal.
M’Vila is, at the time of writing, still a Rubin Kazan player, but the club is on the verge of bankruptcy and has not paid any of its players for several months. Russian sources claim that a termination agreement is close between Kazan and the former Rennes and Sunderland man.
St Étienne are hopeful of finalising a deal on the weekend.