Football Season Guide

Rennes were unable to build on their first season in the Champions League with a follow up qualification and go into the 2021-22 season seeking to regain that level. Last term was rather traumatic for them, with the departure of Julien Stephan, but Bruno Genesio steadied the ship and will again lead the Breton side this season. Rennes’ work in the transfer market has been encouraging. In terms of regular players who have departed, centre-back Damien Da Silva is gone but can readily be replaced. Meanwhile, Steven Nzonzi in the midfield will be more complicated to find a substitute for. Otherwise, the starting XI is thus far retained, though there is clearly significant doubt over Eduardo Camavinga’s long-term future at the club as the season approaches. Coming into the club, Rennes have added some bright young talent. Loic Bade enjoyed a fine campaign after arriving in Ligue 1 with Lens last season and has been a big-money signing in the heart of the defence. Birger Meling, meanwhile, has been rewarded with a fine season for Nimes by joining Rennes. The central midfield slot vacated by Nzonzi remains a work in progress. Meanwhile, left winger Kamaldeen Sulemana boasts a similar profile to highly rated youngster Jeremy Doku, who started slowly last season but grew as the campaign evolved. Both will be players to watch this season. Centre forward could be an area of concern, especially as M’Baye Niang is liable to be sold. Serhou Guirassy is their only natural in that area, though Martin Terrier could be deployed in attack at a pinch. Equally, the heart of the midfield remains an unknown quantity until the transfer market has settled down, though Rennes; business has typically been good in recent weeks. Furthermore, there is already reasonable depth there. Defence, meanwhile, has ample cover, with the likes of Nayef Aguerd and Gerzino Nyamsi capable performers in the heart alongside Bade, and good depth both in the right- and left-back slots. Goalkeeper Alfred Gomis does have some question marks over him, though, and there is a suggestion that is an area that could be changed before the end of the window.