Rennes coach Julien Stephan has confirmed that Lorenz Assignon is ‘leaving’ the club with Burnley looking to bring the defender to the Premier League.
With only a few hours left in the window, Burnley face a race against time as they look to bring in not one but two Ligue 1 stoppers.
The Clarets have already agreed terms with Maxime Esteve, Montpellier’s 6ft 4ins France under-21 international. Esteve is expected to set Burnley back around £10 million while signing a four-year deal on Turf Moor, HITC Football understands.
Burnley close in on Ligue 1 duo
Lorenz Assignon, should all go to plan, will be unveiled alongside Esteve, FootMercato reporting that the talented right-back is due to fly from Paris to Lancashire after talks with rival suitors Galatasaray broke down.
It appears that the recent arrival of Alidu Seide from Ligue 1 rivals Clermont Foot was something of a final straw for Assignon too, with the academy graduate concerned about his place in the Rennes’ XI.
“Regarding the start of the season, Lorenz had an almost nailed-on certainty of playing a lot of matches,” says the club’s head coach Stephan, via Get France Football News. “He thinks that the arrival of Alidu could change things.
“I don’t know where he is going, but he is leaving.”
Lorenz Assignon could spark Connor Roberts’ Leeds move
Assignon is reportedly valued at around £8.5 million by Rennes. His arrival at Turf Moor should free up Connor Roberts to depart, with Leeds United having agreed a deal that would see the ex-Swansea and Middlesbrough man return to the Championship on an initial temporary basis.
Roberts, Burnley’s £2.5 million benchwarmer, has not started a Premier League game since being sent off against Brentford in October. Kompany admits he will not stand in the Welshman’s way, while confirming that Burnley hope to confirm Esteve’s arrival imminently.
“He’s in the building and hopefully we can announce it soon,” the former Man City captain tells Burnley Express. “He’s not signed yet, that’s the truth.
“If it does happen, everybody will see what we’ve seen in him. But, until the ink is on the paper, I’m not going to say too much.”
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