Transfers : What is Rennes playing at?

Much chattier than he usually is, Rennes general manager Pierre Dréossi had much to say to French radio RMC, just a month from the transfer window closing. Ismaël Bangoura, Rod Fanni and Asamoah Gyan could be on their way out of Rennes as soon as this summer.

Asamoah Gyan on his way to Turkey

"We will take a decision in the next few hours if the offer doesn’t satisfy us ». The words are from Dréossi, and they confirm, that the club is ready to sell Gyan at the best possible price. Despite the player’s will to remain in Brittany for another season, Fenerbahçe and the Stade Rennais are still in talks about “Babyjet”.

Believing Dréossi’s comment, the outcome could be known very soon: « The offer is not good enough to let our best player leave. It has to be over by Friday. They formulate a decent offer, or Gyan remains in Rennes for the next season”. In other words, Fenerbahçe have got the situation in their hands. If they improve their offer to approach Rennes’ asking price, Gyan should be wearing the Istanbul team’s shirt next season.

In the transaction, the Stade Rennais could lose their best player only a few days from the Ligue 1 season kick-off. The club’s finances however, would be rejuvenated with the added value realised on the Ghanaian forward. Bought for 8.5 million from Udinese in June 2008, Gyan could be sold for double that price only two years later.

It is difficult however, not to question Rennes’ ambitions in this new season. True, the finances would highly benefit of the player’s sale, bearing in mind that a fair part of the fee would be spent to recruit a high-profile replacement to Gyan, but how would the “Rouge et Noir” cope with the loss of their “Black Star”?

Gameiro et Rémy on target, an eye on Audel

Although most media announce Loïc Rémy (23 y/o) to replace Gyan on the Vilaine banks, it seems Rennes have set their sights on Lorient’s Kevin Gameiro (23 y/o). Both have similar profiles, but the Lorient striker is more of a “killer” in the box.

Wishing to join a Premier League club, Rémy is losing patience and doesn’t want to play another season in Nice. Talking to Nice Matin, Gilbert Stellardo denounced Rennes’ ambitions : « Their idea is to sell Gyan to Fenerbahçe and replace him with Remy. We had contacts with Dréossi. », the Nice president declared. However, he reminded the fact that is player might not want to sign in Rennes, his strong preference remaining for the Premier League.

A week ago, Lorient president Loïc Ferry declared Gameiro would not leave, except in the case of a “colossal offer”. Several French clubs went in touch with the Morbihan club’s management during this transfer window, but the “Merlus” ignored all offers so far. If these leads were to give no result, Johan Audel could be the next target for Rennes, even though rumours are spreading at the moment that his arrival would be conditioned to… Sylvain Marveaux’ departure.

Bangoura without support, Fanni close to... Rennes

More news, with another blow to Bangoura’s confidence. Since he arrived in Rennes, the Guinean international has enjoyed no trust from Frédéric Antonetti whatsoever. It still isn’t clear why the manager brought him from Dynamo Kiev a year ago.

On RMC, Dréossi confirmed that Bangoura was indeed transfer listed, and that the Stade Rennais would therefore listen to offers for “Bang-Bang”, provided a reasonable fee was proposed. Last winter, Al Saad offered 12 million, but the player refused the contract offered by the Qatari club. This time, Rennes seem determined to close to see the back of Bangoura, currently the third most expensive player bought by the club since its creation in 1901.

Still on the departures, Dréossi doesn’t hold any secrets regarding Fanni’s situation, and the negotiations seem to be well over with Atletico Madrid: “Regarding Fanni, the Atletico’s offer is uncertain. They haven’t provided financial guarantees. He won’t go there”. Strongly decided to join the Spanish capital, the French international hasn’t received any other firm offers at the moment. Contracted until June 2012, the Benin born defender could settle for another year in Rennes. A situation the Stade Rennais staff would certainly be more than comfortable with.