Marseille Defender Lilian Brassier Set for Rennes Loan Move

French defender Lilian Brassier (25) is poised to leave Marseille and return to his former club Rennes on a loan deal. Brassier, who only joined Marseille last summer on loan from Brest, has struggled to impress at the Stade Vélodrome under manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Marseille had an obligation to buy Brassier for €12 million, but due to his underwhelming performances, the club has opted not to trigger this clause. Instead, Brassier’s loan at Marseille will be terminated, allowing him to join Rennes on similar terms to his previous arrangement.

The move comes as part of a player swap deal, with Rennes winger Amine Gouiri (24) expected to transfer to Marseille. All parties involved have agreed that a change was necessary for Brassier, who expressed interest in leaving Marseille early.

Rennes, seeking to bolster their defensive options, view Brassier as a potential improvement over their current center-backs, Leo Ostigard and Hans Hateboer, who have faced criticism for their performances. The recent departure of Jorge Sampaoli as Rennes’ head coach is believed to have facilitated Brassier’s move.

Reports suggest that Brassier is scheduled for a medical examination at Rennes on Friday evening. It remains unclear whether his arrival will impact Rennes’ reported interest in Lens defender Kevin Danso.