Loaned by ASSE to Grazer AK, Beres Owusu is approaching a major turning point in his young career. The Austrian club should exercise the purchase option set at €250,000, after only 16 matches.
Last summer, Beres Owusu asked to leave AS Saint-Étienne. In search of playing time, the 22-year-old defender, capable of playing in the center as well as on the right side, did not see himself playing on the bench. Despite a successful loan to Quevilly-Rouen Métropole in National, where he established himself as one of the best defenders in the championship, ASSE then made other choices.
Priority was given to Maxime Bernauer and Chico Lamba to strengthen the Saint-Etienne rearguard. Result: Owusu flew to Austria, where GAK did not hesitate to bet on him. A winning bet.
Grazer AK ready to exercise option to buy Owusu
According to Sky Austriathe Grazer AK intends to exercise its purchase option this winter. The amount of the clause would be €250,000, a modest sum considering the player’s potential. Despite a quick adaptation time and around fifteen matches played, the Frenchman was able to convince. Better yet: several Belgian and Austrian clubs, including Anderlecht, Antwerp, LASK and Rapid Vienne, have already expressed their interest.
A scenario therefore takes shape: Grazer would activate the purchase option… to immediately resell the player at a much higher price. An express added value for the Austrian club, which could then lend Owusu until the end of the season, so as not to disrupt its squad in the midst of its struggle for promotion.
ASSE did not have a hollow nose
For AS Saint-Étienne, this file once again illustrates the difficulty of managing young talents. After a promising loan in National, Owusu could have applied for a place in the rotation, especially in a defense that still has room for improvement.
But the sports management made other choices. If the player continues his progress and joins a major club this winter or next summer, the regrets could be great. Because beyond the technical potential, Beres Owusu displays a clear ambition. Anyone aiming for a place in the World Cup, alongside Annan Ebenezer, could see their odds rise very quickly…
By focusing on his development abroad, the defender shows that he has taken his destiny in hand. It remains to be seen whether ASSE will manage to capitalize on its young shoots with more foresight in the future.
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