Rennes Eyeing Lens Defender Gradit, But Must Sell First

Stade Rennais is gearing up for a potentially busy transfer window as they look to bolster their squad. The club, currently underperforming in Ligue 1, is keen on strengthening its defensive line with RC Lens’ Jonathan Gradit.

Despite substantial investment in the summer, Rennes finds itself in a precarious 12th position, just four points clear of the relegation zone. This disappointing performance led to the dismissal of Julien Stephan and the appointment of Jorge Sampaoli as the new head coach.

Rennes is making progress in negotiations for former Lens midfielder Seko Fofana, currently at Al-Nassr, with a deal around €20 million in the works. They have also reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Lens for goalkeeper Brice Samba.

However, the pursuit of 32-year-old defender Jonathan Gradit faces a hurdle. While Rennes has shown strong interest in Gradit for several weeks, they must first sell players before making any new acquisitions. The club is expected to offload one or two players, with Christopher Wooh being a potential departure.

Gradit himself is contemplating his future at Lens, having been relegated to the bench in recent matches. This situation has opened the door for a possible move, should Rennes be able to create space in their squad and budget.

As the transfer window unfolds, all eyes will be on Rennes to see how they navigate these potential moves and attempt to turn their season around.