Stade Rennais started the year 2025 with a defeat at OGC Nice. A ninth loss in 16 days of Ligue 1 since the start of the season. A sad outcome for a team whose objective is to secure a European place at the end of the season. A goal which will now be very complicated to achieve, even if the January transfer window could bring a new dynamic.
Not convinced by several players, Jorge Sampaoli is hoping for an ambitious transfer window in order to build a team that better fits his playing philosophy. 5 to 6 reinforcements are therefore expected in January. Sports director Frédéric Massara is therefore expected around the corner, just like president Arnaud Pouille who has decided to take charge of certain issues.
While Rennes has already noted the arrival of Seko Fofana, and hopes to quickly find an outcome in the thorny Brice Samba issue which is retained by RC Lens, several avenues are currently being studied to strengthen a particularly feverish defensive sector.
Alidu Seidu out until the end of the season; Christopher Wooh pushed towards the exit; Léo Ostigard not at the expected level; Mikayil Faye still too irregular, defense could ultimately be the biggest project of this winter transfer window in Rennes.
Among the avenues currently being studied, one in particular surprises us. According to information from Footmercato, Stade Rennais has targeted Lilian Brassier. In great difficulty at Olympique de Marseille, the 25-year-old defender is pushed towards the exit.
The problem is that Brassier is only on loan with an almost obligatory purchase option, by Stade Brestois. OM will therefore first have to lift the OA set at 11 million euros, before being able to part ways with the former Brest player.
In idea, the Marseille club would therefore like to be able to recover a large part of its investment, i.e. €12M. An amount that corresponds to the purchase option and the amount of the loan payment.
Still, it would be a big gamble for Stade Rennais to put so much on a player who has shown his limits in a less “family” context than the Brest cocoon. Of course, Lilian Brassier showed great things in Brest, even if he was in the best conditions to perform. But it is not uncommon to see players having great difficulty making the cut in less favorable contexts. Is Lilian Brassier one of these players?
