AS Saint-Étienne is keeping a close eye on Ewen Jaouen for next season, but the 20-year-old Reims goalkeeper may already be out of reach financially. The Stade de Reims would reportedly want between 15 million and 20 million euros to let him go, a figure that could force Saint-Étienne to look elsewhere if the bidding climbs any higher.

Jaouen has emerged from a strong 2024-2025 campaign with Reims, finishing with 15 clean sheets and strengthening his case as one of France’s most watched young keepers. He is also a French youth international, and that profile has drawn attention well beyond Ligue 2, with Newcastle, Brighton and Tottenham said to be following him closely.

The interest comes as Saint-Étienne sit third in Ligue 2 after 33 rounds, on 57 points, and are already thinking ahead to the next step in their squad planning. The club is looking for a serious successor or rival to Gautier Larsonneur, and it is preparing for the possibility of a move if promotion to Ligue 1 is secured.

That is where the deal starts to become difficult. Reims have Jaouen under contract until 2029, which gives them leverage, and the presence of English suitors is pushing the asking price higher. For Saint-Étienne, the reported valuation is seen as prohibitive for its finances, especially with the club needing to balance ambition against the realities of its budget.

If the price keeps rising, Saint-Étienne will need to turn to other options. The club’s interest in Jaouen shows where it wants to go next, but the final outcome may depend as much on promotion as on the market around him.