Leicester City striker Islam Slimani remains on the radar of Saint Etienne.
Former Foxes manager Claude Puel, in charge at ASSE, is keen on a reunion with the Algeria international.
ASSE hope to take Slimani on-loan to the end of this season, but his wages are proving a stumbling block.
The Ligue Une outfit cannot afford to cover 100 per cent of Slimani's €92,000-a-week wages.
The 32 year-old spent last season on-loan at AS Monaco.