Habib Beye, at a recent press conference, addressed the crucial issue of strengthening the attack on Stade Rennais before the end of the mercato. The club, in preparation for its match against Lorient, will face the definitive absence of Arnaud Kalimuendo, creating an urgent need for a new number 9. Beye confirmed that the club is actively looking for an additional attacker, notably mentioning Conrad Harder of Sporting and Esteban Lepaul of Angers as potential leads. However, he stressed a cautious approach, insisting that the club will not rush and will not pay an excessive price for a player. He also stated that the current team is competitive and that they will continue to evolve with this composition, while remaining open to an interesting market opportunity.

The current discussions focus particularly on the Esteban Lepaul case, which could cost up to EUR 25 million. Although Beye does not want to “employ profiles”, he does not close the door when a second attacker arrives if the opportunity arises and if it is financially reasonable. He also mentioned the possibility of strengthening the team with a player able to create opportunities, citing Riedel and Blas as examples of versatile players. Beye stressed the need for an attacker able to score and be effective quickly, while mentioning the potential of players like Kader Meïté to evolve in this role.

In addition, the press conference also addressed the situation of players who were absent and potentially left. Lilian Brassier and Frankowski remain unavailable, while Rongier and Merlin are available. The presence of Ibrahim Salah in training, despite rumours of transfer to FC Basel, suggests a possible agreement. Although the transfer amount was not disclosed, this potential departure is part of a workforce renewal strategy, while maintaining the competitiveness of the current team. Beye stressed the importance of not compromising the balance of the team by recruiting players who would not have time to play.