Stade Rennais FC is handling the final days of the transfer window with several ongoing issues, while the team secured its first league win in a dramatic match. The club is seeking a central striker, has confirmed Esteban Lepaul will stay, and is managing several potential departures.

Manager Franck Haise and the sporting direction want to add a centre-forward to the squad before the transfer deadline. 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, 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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique strongly criticised his team's defensive lapses after the 2-2 draw against Stade Rennais FC last week. 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.