Stade Rennais has decided to make a move this winter. After a disappointing first part of the season, the Breton club, only 12th in Ligue 1, did not wait for the opening of the transfer market, on Wednesday January 1, to move on to its priority files.
In midfield, the priority is Seko Fofana, with whom discussions are well underway. In Saudi Arabia since 2023, the former captain of RC Lens is hoped for by Jorge Sampaoli who already wanted him when he coached Olympique de Marseille. Negotiations still need to be completed while another Saudi team has positioned itself. Rennes would hold the rope and the Ivorian has never been so close to a return to Ligue 1.
At the same time, Stade Rennais is also working to strengthen other sectors, including the goalkeeper position. As L’Équipe announces, we can confirm that discussions have been initiated with Lens to try to poach Brice Samba (30 years old). According to our information, an agreement in principle has even already been found between the two clubs for the arrival of the number 2 goalkeeper of the France team.
As in the Fofana case, president Arnaud Pouille, former general manager of Lens, knows him very well and is doing a lot of work to close the case. Small details remain to be resolved but it is no longer very far from guaranteeing Samba’s contribution to the Rennes ranks during the season.
The departure of Brice Samba would close an important page in the recent history of RC Lens since he is its captain. Under contract until 2028, the French international (3 selections) has climbed the ranks in the north of France to become one of the references in France. Lens knew that he would be attacked in this matter and for the moment refuses to make any comments concerning the probable departure of one of his leaders.
On the Rennes side, the efforts made to bring in Samba mark a little more the downgrading of Steve Mandanda (39 years old) whom Jorge Sampaoli had nevertheless maintained as captain at the time of his arrival. While he is certainly playing the last season of his career, can he call it quits this winter or will he see the adventure through to the end? The short-term future of the former Marseillais will be one of the hot topics of the coming days in Brittany.
