Maccabi Haifa Faces Dilemma Over Struggling Loanee Trivante Stewart
Maccabi Haifa loanee Trivante Stewart is struggling at Turkish club Gaziantep, failing to score in eight league appearances and raising concerns for his parent club regarding his future value.
Trivante Stewart, who was acquired by Maccabi Haifa last summer for 1.5 million euros, is expected to return to the club at the end of the season following his loan spell at Gaziantep. According to reports in Turkey, the chances of the Turkish side exercising a buyout clause are virtually non-existent due to his underwhelming performances.
Since the beginning of the season, the Jamaican forward has made eight appearances in the Turkish top flight without scoring a single goal. Gaziantep currently sits in 16th place out of 18 teams in the relegation zone, having secured only two wins in 11 rounds. Stewart failed to register a goal or an assist in either of those victories.
In the recent league match against Kasimpasa, Stewart started but was substituted at halftime with his team trailing 2-0. Local media in Gaziantep criticized his display, noting that he contributed nothing and that the coach is not receiving the expected output from a striker.
Maccabi Haifa is closely monitoring the 24-year-old forward's situation, having initially hoped he would thrive in Turkey and attract significant transfer interest. However, Stewart has failed to complete a full 90 minutes in any match this season, sparking criticism from local fans who labeled him sluggish and lacking a goal-scoring touch.
The primary concern for Maccabi Haifa is that Gaziantep might completely phase him out of the squad and bench him for the remainder of the season. If this occurs, the club risks receiving back a player who no longer fits their tactical plans, complicating efforts to recoup a portion of the 1.5 million euro investment.
