The outlet understands that the former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder expressed his wish to leave the Ligue 1 club when returning from his holidays, on December 28th. Matić, a father of three, has previously lamented the fact he could not enrol his children at an international school in Rennes. The problem is that there is no international school in Rennes. This misunderstanding has reportedly angered the club’s owner – French billionaire and luxury mogul François Pinault.

Lyon and Marseille pushing to sign Matić

Ouest-France adds that Pinault, as well as the club’s executives, have no intention of letting go of Matić after only four months in Brittany. The pill would be even harder to swallow should a rival Ligue 1 club were to swoop in. It has been previously reported that Lyon were targeting the former Premier League player. Ouest-France adds that Les Gones have the financial means to lure Matić out of Brittany and that Lyon have progressed in their attempts to sign him.

Lyon are set to face competition from Marseille. Allowing Matić to leave would be another setback for the Bretons, who are only tenth in the league.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Genesio was heavily linked to the hot seat at former club Olympique Lyonnais following the sacking of Fabio Grosso. L’Équipe reported that talks took place between Lyon and Genesio, however, OL didn’t want to make a rash decision and afforded Pierre Sage time in his interim role. Following a string of positive results (three wins in the past four Ligue 1 games), Sage is now set to remain manager of Les Gones until the end of the season. 

However, Lyon aren’t the only interested party. Beşiktaş are also in the market for a new manager and submitted an offer to Genesio eight days ago, according to Foot Mercato. However, as per the French publication, Genesio is yet to give his response. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Since signing for Les Rouges et Noirs in the summer transfer window from Roma, things haven’t gone to plan for Matic in the North of France. The former Chelsea defensive midfielder and his family have not adapted to life in Rennes, prompting the 35-year-old to look towards the exit door in the winter window. 

Lyon are keen to bolster their options in the defensive midfield department in January and the former Manchester United midfielder is seen as their desired profile. The Serbian international has lots of experience and offers a physicality currently lacking from the Les Gones midfield. OL are also showing an interest in Baptiste Santamaria from Rennes, according to L’Équipe.

Stéphan wants Matic to stay

Despite wanting to leave the club, Julien Stéphan would like Nemanja Matic to stay at Roazhon Park, L’Équipe reports. Matic has not formally requested to leave the club but his intentions to move to new surroundings appear to be clear. With Lyon interested in his service but Rennes holding a reluctance to let him leave, it remains to be seen whether OL will get their man in defensive midfield. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

As revealed by Foot Mercato earlier on Friday, Kehrer is attracting interest from many clubs across Europe this January. As well Monaco, OGC Nice, Stade Rennais, and even Bayern Munich are all interested in the former Paris Saint-Germain centre-back. 

Having featured relatively prominently last season, Kehrer has found game time harder to come by this campaign. The German international, who departed PSG in 2022, has largely been used as a substitute, starting on just four occasions all season. West Ham are therefore not opposed to losing Kehrer this January.

Kehrer unkeen on Atalanta move

L’Équipe have confirmed Monaco’s interest in Kehrer, adding that they are stepping up their attempts to sign the German. Simultaneously, the Principality club are also looking to conclude a deal for Stade Brestois’ Lilian Brassier. 

However, Monaco still face competition to complete the deal for Kehrer. According to L’Équipe, Nice and Rennes have already submitted a contract offer to Kehrer. However, one team from which Les Monégasques won’t face competition is Atalanta. The Serie A side had shown interest, but Kehrer was not keen on the move. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Having featured relatively prominently last season, Kehrer has found game time harder to come by this campaign. The German international, who departed PSG in 2022, has largely been used as a substitute, starting on just four occasions all season. West Ham are therefore not opposed to losing Kehrer this January. 

Sky Sports Italia have evoked interest from AS Roma and AC Milan, however, they may also face competition from France. Stade Rennais have had a disastrous start to the season and their defence is one of their major flaws. As reported by Foot Mercato, AS Monaco’s Guillermo Maripán is a target, as is Kehrer. 

The Breton club are exploring the option of a six-month loan, and so are OGC Nice. Francesco Farioli’s side have the best defence in Ligue 1 and in Dante and Jean-Clair Todibo, arguably the strongest centre-back pairing too. However, a reinforcement, in the shape of Kehrer, could arrive in January. AS Monaco, who, as reported, could lose Maripán, are also interested in the out-of-favour Kehrer. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Whilst Maripán has been a fixture in Monaco’s back-line under Adi Hütter this season, the Chilean doesn’t necessarily represent the future of the Principality club. Les Monégasques are in the process of reconstructing their defence. Wilfried Singo arrived in the summer, Soungoutou Magassa has broken through, and Lilian Brassier could arrive from Stade Brestois in January.

As a result, Monaco are not opposed to selling Maripán this January. Rennes have now made official contact regarding a deal. The Principality club have set a €10m valuation on the defender, who arrived at the club back in 2019. However, according to Foot Mercato, the player himself is not set on a departure. The Chilean is happy at the Stade Louis II and does not necessarily wish to make a move away in the coming weeks. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Since the arrival of Nemanja Matić in the summer, Santamaria, previously a staple in the Rennes midfield, has seen his game time reduced. However, amid rumours of a potential departure for the former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder, Santamaria began to work his way back into the club’s plans, starting four out of the five matches before the winter break. 

However, during his time warming the bench at Rennes, Santamaria attracted interest, notably from Olympique Lyonnais, who are looking to invest heavily in order to stave off relegation. A January move cannot be ruled out. The Frenchman has also reportedly attracted interest from other European clubs. For much of the season, a departure has looked likely. Time will tell whether his future is linked to that of Matić. 

Rieder’s future at Rennes is also under consideration. The highly-rated Swiss midfielder has underwhelmed since his €15m summer move from Young Boys. He has just three goals since joining the club. His future is being “considered”, however, a move away in January will be complicated given that he has already played for two clubs this season. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

However, the faithful Canaris fans would have probably preferred not to see the former Guingamp man put pen to paper with their bitter Brittany rivals Stade Rennais. Still, the 25-year-old had the courtesy not to run down his contract with Nantes to go on a free, leaving La Beaujoire in a €15m switch after four seasons of truly memorable moments.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗳 Ludovic Blas

𝟰 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 en jaune et vert. pic.twitter.com/sVDNLW3iFS

— FC Nantes (@FCNantes) July 5, 2023

Blas was Antoine Kombouaré’s Nantes’ driving force – a pacy and deft dribbler with a keen eye for goal and gifted with some serious ball-striking abilities. Who ran half of the Juventus’ pitch to rifle past Wojciech Szczęsny in Turin? Blas did. Who scored a stunning acrobatic volley against Lyon in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France? Blas did. Who dribbled past two Angers players to assist Ignatius Ganago for Nantes’ most vital goal of the season on the final matchday? You know who.

Struggling for game time at Rennes

On the back of a successful 2021-22 season, in which Nantes over-performed in the league with a ninth-place finish and a Coupe de France title – Blas scored the final’s only goal against Nice, with a trademark torpedo from the penalty spot – Lille heavily courted the 2016 U19 European champion. Nantes stood firm. It could have proven their undoing, given Blas’ inconsistency and struggles to link up with teammates not as talented as he is.

He flourished with Randal Kolo Muani two years ago, but not so much the following season. Despite being given the armband, Blas considered Nantes a stepping stone for his career. Talks of a contract renewal with Les Canaris never really gathered pace. The time to take a leap of faith had come.

Bruno Genesio’s Rennes made their move and Blas looked very much at ease in preseason. The 25-year-old played as a right-sided winger under the guidance of Genesio, as a de facto replacement for the Manchester City-bound Jérémy Doku. However, Rennes’ struggling start of the season – culminating with Genesio’s resignation – has taken its toll on Blas’ confidence, despite some acceptable statistics (five goal contributions in 19 games).

It would be unfair to say Blas is having a worse season in Brittany than the likes of Enzo Le Fée, Arnaud Kalimuendo or Amine Gouiri. However, with Stéphan opting for a 3-4-3 set-up, Blas has fallen the pecking order with the Algeria international starting ahead of him. The upcoming 2024 AFCON may be Blas’ chance to kickstart his Rennes career back and remind Ligue 1 of his outrageous skills.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Rennes paid €20m for the former France U21 striker from PSG in the summer of 2022. Kalimuendo had just announced himself to fans of French football following an impressive two seasons on loan at Lens from Les Parisiens. The 21-year-old has struggled to recapture his Lens form at Rennes. Kalimuendo has scored 11 goals in 56 appearances for Rennes. 

It remains to be seen though if any clubs will attempt to lure the Frenchman away from Roazhon Park in January though despite Rennes’ willingness for a sale.  

Christopher Wooh and Warmed Omari also for sale

Les Rouges et Noirs are also open to selling defensive dup Christopher Wooh (22) and Warmed Omari (23). Wooh, a Cameroonian international, is considered surplus to requirements at Roazhon Park, and Omari is viewed in a similar vein. It remains to be seen whether any active suitors will arrive for the Rennes defensive duo. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Matić left Roma in the summer to involve himself in a battle for the podium in Ligue1, however, that has not come to pass. Les Rennais are 10th in Ligue 1, 14 points away from the podium and just five points above the relegation play-off spot. “The diagnosis is clear and we have to face the reality, which is that we are fighting with teams like Toulouse and Clermont,” said new manager Julien Stéphan earlier this week. The sporting project sold to Matić when he decided to make the switch has therefore not lived up to the reality. 

Matić contends with personal issues since Rennes transfer

It wasn’t Stéphan who convinced Matić to come to Rennes, but Bruno Genesio and Florian Maurice. The former has since left the club and the latter almost left earlier this season. “I like the ambition of the people that work here, of the coach in particular,” said Matić of Genesio in August. 

Beyond the sporting shortcomings, Matić has also struggled to integrate in Rennes, according to Ouest-France. The Serbian arrived at the club under the assumption that he could enrol his children at an international school in Rennes, however, one does not exist. His three children therefore go to a school in Rennes, but none of his children are French speakers. 

Whilst Le Parisien report that Matić has not asked for a transfer, a January departure certainly cannot be ruled out in early 2024. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle