Rennes recruits Brice Samba, Mandanda is over!
Stade Rennais is set to make the first major move of the winter transfer window by signing Brice Samba to replace Steve Mandanda. An agreement in principle has been reached between Lens and Rennes.
The relationship between Jorge Sampaoli and Steve Mandanda didn’t end well at Olympique de Marseille, and it seems things won’t last much longer for Mandanda at Rennes either. According to L’Équipe, Stade Rennais and RC Lens have finalized an agreement for the transfer of the French international Goalkeeper. The presence of Arnaud Pouille as Rennes‘ president clearly helped smooth the negotiations, as he served as the general manager of Lens until June of this year.
To convince Lens to release their star goalkeeper, who is under contract until 2028, the Sampaoli-led Rennes reportedly agreed to pay well over 14 million euros—a significant sum for a goalkeeper who will celebrate his 31st birthday next April.
Stade Rennais has offered Brice Samba a contract running until 2029—a lengthy commitment that likely played a significant role in the French goalkeeper’s decision to continue his career in Brittany. Coincidentally, Samba had been interviewed by the sports daily L’Équipe on Friday, during which he openly expressed doubts about his future at Lens. The goalkeeper had grown frustrated by the departures of several key figures, most notably coach Franck Haise. With Samba’s move now all but confirmed, the spotlight at Roazhon Park shifts to Steve Mandanda.
Mandanda is entering the final six months of his contract with Rennes, and it’s hard to imagine the 39-year-old veteran being content to spend his time watching matches from the stands. After a less-than-stellar first half of the season, the former Marseille goalkeeper may be released, giving him the chance to seek one final challenge before likely retiring.
For Rennes, the winter transfer window marks the beginning of a new chapter. Following Samba’s arrival, the club is now turning its attention to another high-profile target—Seko Fofana, who is also expected to make his way to Ille-et-Vilaine soon.
