Niang’s manager forgives antics; reports said West Brom were keen, Dowling knows him

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Speaking to RMC Sport, Rennes boss Julien Stéphan has expressed forgiveness over M’Baye Niang’s antics this summer.

The ex-Watford attacker expressed his love for Marseille earlier in the window in a come-and-get-me plea, and was left out of Rennes’ pre-season preparations as RMC Sport’s story states.

Also, The Express and Star reported that West Brom had held talks about signing the Senegal international on loan.

The Baggies technical director Luke Dowling knows the striker well, having worked with him at Watford.

Showing a forgiving side, Stéphan said: ‘I count on him. If M’Baye wishes to stay there and get back into the project, he is welcome. I welcome him with open arms.’

Niang cost Rennes a sum of €15 million (£13.7 million) when they signed him from Torino in 2019.

However, just a year later, the former AC Milan prospect seems keen to leave the club.

As Stéphan alludes to in his interview, Niang actually started Rennes’ first game of the campaign against Lille, playing 64 minutes.

However, since then, he was left on the bench in the following 2-1 win over Montpellier.

Additionally, he hasn’t featured at all in any of the French club’s matchday squads, missing out against Nimes, Monaco, Saint-Etienne and Reims.

West Brom can no longer sign the 25-year-old this year after the closure of the transfer window.

The only remaining avenues available to Slaven Bilic will be from the English Football League, as the domestic deadline extends to October 16th.