Khalil Fayad (foto: //)
Hajduk Split are closing in on Montpellier midfielder Khalil Fayad as Rokas Pukštas' replacement after the 22-year-old attracted interest from Almería and Widzew.
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Hajduk Split have moved quickly following Rokas Pukštas' departure, with
Montpellier midfielder Khalil Fayad emerging as the Croatian club's potential replacement for the American.
French transfer insider Mohamed Toubache-Ter reports that the 22-year-old midfielder is closing in on a move to Poljud.
Hajduk had already indicated that further reinforcements would arrive following the club's qualification for the Conference League, and Fayad appears to be the first major target to emerge.
The Split club are also reportedly working on the signing of a defensive midfielder, although the identity of that target has yet to be revealed.
Hajduk enter race involving Almería and Widzew
Fayad's situation has developed rapidly in recent days.
Montpellier had reportedly been discussing his future with Spanish side Almería and Poland's Widzew Łódź, but Hajduk's emergence appears to have changed the situation.
The opportunity to play European football could also strengthen Hajduk's position in negotiations.
Fayad would arrive as a direct midfield reinforcement following the departure of Rokas Pukštas, who left Hajduk for England after playing a decisive role in securing European football for the club.
The 22-year-old's versatility is one of his main strengths.
Primarily a central midfielder, Fayad can operate in a deeper role or further forward, potentially giving coach Gonzalo García several tactical options.
From Montpellier academy to Ligue 1
Born in Montpellier in June 2004, Fayad has French and Moroccan citizenship.
He joined Montpellier's academy in 2010 and progressed through the club's youth system before signing his first professional contract in 2022.
Fayad was regarded as one of the academy's most promising players, earning praise for his technique, vision, passing ability and set-piece delivery.
His Ligue 1 debut came on one of French football's biggest stages.
At only 18, Fayad made his first senior league appearance against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in August 2022.
Montpellier lost 5-2, but the teenager still made an immediate impact by providing an assist for Enzo Tchato.
67 Ligue 1 appearances by the age of 21
Fayad's most productive Ligue 1 campaign came in 2023/24, when he scored three goals in 23 league appearances.
Across his first three senior seasons, he accumulated 67 Ligue 1 appearances, giving him considerable top-flight experience at a young age.
Following Montpellier's relegation, Fayad played in Ligue 2 last season, making 20 league appearances and recording one goal and one assist.
His international background is also notable.
Although eligible to represent Morocco through his family roots, Fayad represented France at youth level.
He made six appearances and scored once for France U18, played seven times for the U19 side and added another three appearances at U20 level.
A midfielder suited to García's football
Fayad is most comfortable in a team that wants to dominate possession.
When he signed his first professional contract, Montpellier described him as a No.8 capable of breaking opposition lines with his passing, while his technique from set pieces was also highlighted.
Those characteristics could make him particularly interesting for Gonzalo García.
Hajduk's coach wants his side to control matches through possession and combination play, and Fayad's technical profile appears well suited to that approach.
His ability to play in several midfield roles could also help compensate for the loss of Pukštas while giving García greater flexibility.
If Hajduk complete the deal, they will be adding a 22-year-old midfielder with extensive experience in French football, a background with France's youth national teams and significant room for further development.
For a club preparing for a European campaign, Fayad could represent one of Hajduk's most intriguing moves of the closing stages of the transfer window.