Rebuilding RC Lens: Summer Transfer Plans and Prospects for the 2023-24 Season

After an incredible 2022-23 season which saw it finish in 2nd place in Ligue 1 behind PSG, RC Lens was inevitably expected to turn the corner, particularly after the departures of Seko Fofana and Lois Openda. And the season has not been easy between a third place in its Champions League group and a great victory against Arsenal, but a cruel elimination in the Europa League against Friborg and a current 6th place in Ligue 1, which somewhat disappointed the Lensois supporters.

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Internally also the Artesian club was not spared with the departure of Grégory Thil and the arrival of Frederic Hebert as recruitment coordinator. After a winter transfer window punctuated by the real false start of Massadio Haïdara, RC Lens is working behind the scenes to prepare for next season. After having formalized the extension of Facundo Medina a few days ago, the northern club completed the arrival of the Burkinabe international goalkeeper from Charleroi, Hervé Koffi, as number 1 bis in goals for compensation of €2.5 million .

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RC Lens is already anticipating the departure of Kevin Danso

This arrival will be the first in a long line since Lens’ desire is to strengthen itself in all areas of the game. In defense, the RCL must anticipate the probable departure of its Austrian rock Kevin Danso. At the time of writing these lines, no firm proposal has yet arrived on Arnaud Pouille’s desk, but the summer will be long and the courtiers numerous. To anticipate and avoid major disappointments come summer, the Lens recruitment unit has set its priority to replace Danso, namely Carlos Teran. According to our information, the Colombian U23 international who plays for the Chicago Fire fits perfectly with the needs of the club coached by Frank Haise.

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Solid in duels, good with the head, this beautiful baby of one meter 88 and 85 kg has all the prototype of the modern central defender. Holder in MLS since 2022, Carlos Teran wants to join Europe and has a good chance of arriving in Artois this summer, especially as discussions are currently underway between the different parties. The promising Colombian could also not arrive alone this summer since another young and promising defender is also close to signing up with Lens. Sidi Bane, a 20-year-old Senegalese central defender, who plays for BATE Borisov in Belarus, caught the eye of the RC Lens recruitment unit and is also close to signing up for Lens as we do. indicated a source close to the artesian club.

Lens will draw in National and Ligue 2

The northern team therefore decided to focus on recruiting players with high potential who are well known to informed observers, but ultimately little known to the general public. This is also the case on a third advanced target which plays in National near Sochaux. Tireless dribbler and key man of the Doubiste National club, Alex Daho (20 years old) is one of the great revelations of the third division championship. Arriving late at the Sochaux training center, the twirling Franco-Ivorian scored 3 goals and delivered 2 assists in 26 matches. But it is above all his ability to make a difference with the ball that should delight Lensois supporters. If the matter is not completely closed, it is on very, very good track.

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The defensive midfielder position, which has never really been filled since the departure of Cheick Doucouré to Crystal Palace in 2022, will also be reinforced. The arrival of the great Ivorian hope from Troyes, Abdoulaye Kanté (18 years old), who has already played 18 Ligue 2 matches with the Aube club while playing at Montfermeil a few months ago, is moving in the right direction. His profile as a warrior who never gives up, which is reminiscent of Doucouré, should do a lot of good for the midfield which has a good chance of being overhauled during the summer.

Rafik Guitane, la surprise du boss

However, there is a well-known Ligue 1 player who is talking with Lens, a certain Rafik Guitane. A former great hope in French football, recruited at a high price by Stade Rennais and has since passed through numerous clubs, the new Algerian international has had a blast at Estoril since the start of the season when he arrived from Reims. With 5 goals and 3 assists in 29 Liga Portugal matches, the former Le Havre player, whose name keeps coming up with Benfica Lisbon, could make his return to L1 through the front door in Lens. As a reminder, Guitane has a release clause of €5 million.

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As we can see, RC Lens does not plan to waste time in the summer transfer window. If a few major departures (desired or not) are to be expected this summer, the Lens recruitment unit is already hard at work to attract some future talents to the Stade Bollaert. The objective is obviously to have the same success as with Neil El Aynaoui, who arrived on the sly from Nancy for €700,000 and who is today an indisputable starter in the midfield of the Artesian club…

Pub. 04/24/2024 3:01 p.m. Updated 04/24/2024 3:26 p.m.

2024-04-24 13:01:31
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