Saint-Etienne Considering US Captain Bocanegra

Posted Monday, January 18, 2010 by Goal.com

According to reports out of France, Carlos Bocanegra could be set for a loan move to Ligue 1 strugglers Saint-Etienne. Just months ahead of the 2010 World Cup, the USA captain has fallen out of favor as the number-one leftback at Rennes in the past month. He has failed to get off the bench in the last four league games.

Rennes manager Frederic Antonetti told Canal Plus, the French TV channel, on Saturday that all the starters in the 1-1 draw at home to Lens were untransferable. With young midfielder Romain Danze starting at leftback, leaving Bocanegra vulnerable and in line for a move away from Bretagne.

Saint-Etienne have had a difficult season so far, lying just one place out of the relegation zone. A win on Saturday night away to cellar-dwelling Grenoble helped the cause, but Cedric Varrault's performance will do nothing to alleviate concerns at the leftback position. The 29-year-old knocked in an own goal and then was removed at halftime with a hamstring injury.

Les Verts' technical director Damien Comolli, who was previously sporting director at EPL side Tottenham Hotspur, is reported to be a fan of Bocangra from the player's time at Fulham.