Former Southampton defender Yan Valery has admitted he would take an opportunity to come back to English football if it presented itself.
The Tunisian right-back came through the Saints’ academy, before starting a number of games in the Premier League for the South Coast club. However, with game time becoming harder to come by in the side, he moved to France to join Ligue 1 side Angers SCO in the summer of 2022.
Although he was unable to help steer the side away from the heartbreak of relegation at the end of that season, he did go on to play a pivotal role in this season’s promotion campaign back to the top flight.
However, he has now admitted he would relish the opportunity to play in the English game once again.
“Actually, I have become English. When I go to England, I immediately feel this calmness and this way of living that I personally prefer,” the 25-year-old said when speaking to 90football.
“If I had the chance to go back to England, I’d take it. I have really felt a warmth and things that I think are normal for a human being. He shouldn’t be bitter or not like his neighbour just because he’s different or because he sees life differently. We all live together, if you can help your neighbour, you help them. It’s more like that in England. You find that less easily in France.”
This news will come as a boost to Sheffield Wednesday fans as the Yorkshire club are reportedly in a transfer battle with a number of French Ligue 1 sides for the player’s signature this summer.
Danny Rohl, who worked with Valery during his time with Southampton, is reported to be a fan of bringing the player to Hillsborough so will now be hoping that they are the only English club in the battle following this revelation. With Pol Valentin the only out and out choice for the right-back position, the depth in this position could be strengthened significantly if this move were to materialise.
Writer’s View
Rohl and his staff achieved great success at Wednesday last season, helping steer the side away from relegation in impressive fashion. Now, the German must focus on building for the future and a signing such as this could be exactly the statement that fans would want to see.
However, the club are still arguably towards the lower reaches of the second-tier in terms of attractiveness of the project, with questions surrounding the stability of the ownership still very much prevalent, therefore, convincing the defender to join may be harder than original theorised.
