Arsenal join Manchester United in race to sign Rennes’ Désiré Doué | OneFootball

Stade Rennais manager Julien Stéphan seemed resigned to losing a key asset after the club’s failure to secure European football for the first time in seven years. “We know today’s market, notably for the very young players. He will decide through his personal ambition. I’m not naive. We’re glad to have developed him during the second part of the season. He’s at risk of leaving without a single full season here, that’s a shame. I would have liked that; that would have been an ideal situation,” said the Rennes manager in reference to Désiré Doué (18) on Sunday.

There is hope that Doué will become the club’s record sale, eclipsing the €66m that Manchester City paid to sign Jérémy Doku last summer. Given the teams interested in the France youth international, considered one of the most talented players of his generation, reaching the desired €70m fee may be a possibility. Reaching that figure would depend on bonuses, with Rennes willing to listen to offers north of €40m.

According to Ouest-France, Premier League giants Arsenal have joined Manchester United and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in showing an interest in the attacking midfielder, capable of playing through the middle or out wide. PSG, Arsenal and Manchester United all have the financial means to pull off a deal for Doué, however, it is thought that Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, do not. The latter tried and failed to bring the Frenchman to Germany in January. Their chance to do so may have passed after Premier League competition joined the race.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle