Stade Rennais FC is navigating the final days of the transfer window with several ongoing issues, while the team secured its first league win in a dramatic match. According to RMC Sport Football, the club is seeking a central striker, has confirmed Esteban Lepaul will stay, and is managing several potential departures.
What attacking reinforcement is Stade Rennais FC targeting?
Manager Franck Haise and the sporting direction want to add a centre-forward to the squad before the transfer deadline. RMC Sport Football reports that the club has limited financial means to comply with UEFA's financial rules, complicating a potential return for Martin Terrier. Senegalese striker Boulaye Dia, from Lazio Rome, is a target mentioned by the Italian press, but his long contract makes a move difficult.
Former Reims player Boulaye Dia started for Lazio this Sunday. The name of Ludovic Ajorque, whose contract at Brest expires in 2026, has also circulated, but Stade Brestois wants to extend his deal. In parallel, Stade Rennais FC is working on several exits. Defender Lilian Brassier is expected to join Frankfurt, while the situations of Djaoui Cissé and Alidu Seidu remain to be resolved. Ludovic Blas, however, appears set to stay despite his expiring contract, valued by Haise for his versatility.
Will Esteban Lepaul leave the club?
The Stade Rennais FC management has firmly closed any debate regarding a departure of their star striker. Esteban Lepaul himself was categorical after his brace against Le Mans. "The transfer window? I think it's been clear from the management. The debate was closed quickly," said the player, quoted by RMC Sport Football.
Lepaul, the reigning league top scorer, extended his contract until 2030 this summer and has already scored three goals in two Ligue 1 matchdays this season. Retaining him is an absolute priority for Stade Rennais FC's sporting project. The club can rely on his current form for the upcoming matches, which you can check on our fixtures page.
How did Stade Rennais FC beat Le Mans?
Stade Rennais FC finally secured its first win of the Ligue 1 season, but it took until the last minute of added time. The Bretons won 3-2 against a heroic Le Mans side, thanks largely to a brace from Esteban Lepaul. Le Mans striker Louis Mafouta also scored twice.
The end of the match was completely chaotic, as reported by RMC Sport Football. In stoppage time, Stade Rennais FC won a penalty converted by Lepaul to retake a 3-2 lead. Moments later, the referee awarded another penalty to Le Mans, but the action was eventually ruled out for offside after a VAR review. This valuable win allows Stade Rennais FC to climb the standings.
Who are the Europa League opponents?
Stade Rennais FC learned its path in the 2026-2027 UEFA Europa League group stage during Friday's draw in Monaco. The Breton team will notably face Juventus Turin in a trip to Italy, according to information reported by sports.yahoo.com.
Stade Rennais FC's group also includes Olympiacos, Dinamo Zagreb, Sparta Prague, Omonoia Nicosia, Sturm Graz, OFI Crete, and NEC Nijmegen. The exact match dates will be announced by Sunday. This European campaign will add to a busy Ligue 1 schedule, where the club currently sits in the top 10. The full squad composition for these challenges is available on our squad page.
What was the reaction after the PSG draw?
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique strongly criticised his team's defensive lapses after the 2-2 draw against Stade Rennais FC last week. As reported by beIN Sports, the Spanish coach pointed to his team's vulnerability in defensive transitions, a weakness exploited by Stade Rennais FC.
Luis Enrique stated his team needed to recover its intensity and warned against any loss of focus. "If you get distracted a little, you can have problems," he said. For PSG, this result followed a defeat in the Trophée des Champions against Lens. For their part, Stade Rennais FC proved their ability to trouble the top sides, with Esteban Lepaul scoring in that match.
