AJ Auxerre is showing significant interest in a loan deal for Moroccan winger Anass Zaroury, currently under contract with Panathinaikos, according to a report by Morning Foot this week. The Burgundy club, sitting 18th in Ligue 1 with zero points from two losses, is actively seeking offensive reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
Why Auxerre wants Anass Zaroury
Auxerre needs creative solutions on the wings to jumpstart its difficult season. The team has scored only three goals and conceded eight in two matchdays, falling six points behind leaders Monaco. Adding a profile like Zaroury, a pure dribbler effective in tight spaces, could provide the missing spark. The club is also dealing with several absentees, including Assane Dioussé, Marvin Senaya and Sekou Fofana, as detailed on our injuries page. This search for reinforcements is an absolute priority.
What is Anass Zaroury's profile
Anass Zaroury is a 25-year-old winger who has played 29 matches this season for Panathinaikos, averaging 62 minutes per game. He has scored four goals and provided two assists. Data'Scout data, cited by Morning Foot, reveals a player with strong technical qualities but athletic limitations. His 'Provocateur Winger' index is 59, ranking him 13th in the Greek Super League, and his 'Excentric Playmaker' index is 57, placing him 10th. His percentiles are telling: he excels in successful dribbles (100th percentile), offensive duels won (98th) and successful crosses (94th). However, his physical standards are weak, with a maximum speed percentile of 15 and sprint number and distance percentiles at just 8.
How would the transfer happen
The most likely scenario for Zaroury's departure is a loan deal. This format would allow Panathinaikos to retain a buy-back option on the player. Discussions are still in their early stages, and the player's situation in Greece needs to clarify before a loan can be finalized. For Auxerre, a loan represents a limited-risk way to test a player whose technical qualities are undeniable but whose adaptation to the physical demands of Ligue 1 could be problematic.
What is Auxerre's sporting context
The pursuit of Zaroury comes in an urgent sporting context for AJA. The club is bottom of the league and faces Olympique Lyonnais, 4th in the table, in its next fixture on September 4th. Checking the full schedule on our fixtures page shows the need for a quick turnaround. The immediate objective is to climb out of the relegation zone, and an additional offensive contributor is seen as necessary to achieve that. Zaroury's profile, if signed, will need to immediately prove he can offset his physical weaknesses with game intelligence and dribbling quality in the final third.
The Auxerre sporting directorate is working on several deals in parallel, but the interest in Anass Zaroury is real and concrete. What happens next will depend on negotiations with Panathinaikos and the player's own willingness to take on the challenge of Ligue 1 with a struggling team. Time is running out, with the end of the transfer window fast approaching.
