OGC Nice have now agreed terms with Stade Rennais over a move for Gaetan Laborde, but need an agreement with the striker to beat interest from Newcastle and West Ham United.
Stade Rennais accept Nice offer for Newcastle, West Ham target Gaetan Laborde
According to Foot Mercato, Stade Rennais have accepted a bid from OGC Nice worth up to €20m (£17m) to sell Gaetan Laborde. The Ligue 1 pair have been negotiating terms for the forward in tandem with a €25m (£21.5m) deal for Amine Gouiri to move the opposite way.
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Rennes are now ramping up talks with Gouiri to settle on personal terms after he said his goodbyes to the Nice squad. His transfer to Roazhon Park is not yet finalised, but talks are heading in a positive direction with Les Rennais now ready to take Nice’s bid for Laborde.
Nice have tracked Laborde for some time after he produced a prolific campaign last term with 12 goals and eight assists from 34 Ligue 1 games. He has also started his second top-flight season at Roazhon Park after arriving last August well with two goals in four games.
Laborde’s representatives are still locked in negotiations with the hierarchy at the Allianz Riviera over his possible transfer this August. Les Aiglons are eager to wrap up discussions soon with Marseille now entering the chase in case Bamba Dieng or Cedric Bakambu leave.
Marseille cannot afford to rival the €20m (£17m) offer Nice tabled Stade Rennais without a departure before Thursday’s deadline. Thus decisive hours are underway for Les Aiglons to reach an agreement with the forward’s entourage that will allow his part-exchange arrival.
Eddie Howe and David Moyes need Gaetan Laborde to snub Nice transfer
Marseille are not the only rival suitor interested in battling with Nice for Laborde’s transfer from Stade Rennais, though, as TuttoMercatoWEB credit Newcastle and West Ham United with interest. LOSC Lille and, especially, Sevilla are also among the 28-year-old’s admirers.
Reports by Foot Mercato have also cited Newcastle, Sevilla and Lille’s interest in Laborde’s transfer from Stade Rennais. The Premier League, La Liga and Ligue 1 outfits are all fans of what the former France U20 ace gave after leaving Montpellier for €15m (£13m) last year.
Yet unless Laborde is prepared to snub the terms Nice offer, Eddie Howe and David Moyes look set to miss out on a transfer with Stade Rennais in the final days of the summer sales.
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