Lens Coach Sidelines Goalkeeper Samba as Transfer Saga Continues

Lens manager Will Still has made good on his word by excluding team captain Brice Samba from the squad for their upcoming match. This decision comes as the 30-year-old French goalkeeper is rumored to be transferring to Rennes. Despite Lens reportedly halting the €14 million transfer, Samba had already agreed to join Rennes on a long-term contract.

Still addressed the situation in a pre-match press conference, stating, “Retaining a player who wishes to leave is not ideal, so the decision was straightforward.” As a result, Samba will not be part of the team for Lens’ upcoming Ligue 1 fixture against Toulouse.

The transfer saga has taken an unexpected turn, with reports suggesting that Lens’ goalkeeping coach, Hervé Sekli, expressed interest in following Samba to Rennes. This development could complicate matters further, as it would require Lens to find a replacement coach and Rennes to part ways with their current goalkeeping specialist.

When questioned about the situation, Sekli maintained that he currently has no plans to leave Lens but did not completely rule out the possibility of a future move. Meanwhile, Rennes is expected to continue pursuing Samba despite the recent setbacks in negotiations.