This article is taken from the new GFFN 100 2021. The GFFN 100 ranks the top 100 players in French football over the past 12 months, see the full list and read all 100 profiles right here on GFFN.

Rennes’ summer transfer window showed intent. With the full backing of the club’s hierarchy for the project that former Lyon partnership of director of football Florian Maurice and coach Bruno Genesio are trying to build, more than £70m was spent by Les Rouges et Noirs on top talents including Lovro Majer, Gaëtan Laborde and Loïc Badé. But the transfer that caught the eye of many was the £13.5m spent on Ghanaian teenage winger Kamaldeen Sulemana from Danish club Nordsjaelland. As a relatively unknown quantity, questions arose when Rennes broke the Danish Superliga transfer record to secure the teenager’s services. However, during his time in Denmark, Sulemana showed he could turn out to be an astute investment for the Breton based club. His impressive end to the 2020/21 season was one of many reasons why Ajax and Manchester United were also linked with the player before he made the switch to northern France.Ahead of the Danish top-flight being broken into two halves for the final part of the season, Sulemana’s early form in the regular league season last year will have left fans of Nordsjaelland wanting more. The Ghanian only managed two goals in the main league stage of the season in 2021 before the championship group broke off in April. Knowing his ability to score and create, this will have been disappointing for all parties, especially with some of Europe’s biggest clubs linked with acquiring the player’s services.

Despite this slight dip in form in the early stages of 2021, he thrived when it came to the business end of the campaign. In the Championship stage of the Superliga, Sulemana featured nine times for the former Danish champions and it’s safe to say that he was the star in those matches. The 19-year-old netted six times and assisted twice in a stellar run of form for a Nordsjaelland team which eventually failed to qualify for European competition. Scoring five times in five games, including a brace in a 4-3 win against Randers, at the start of the championship round saw Sulemana named the Superliga’s player of the month for April. After such a run, fans of the 2012 title winners will have known Sulemana’s time at the club was coming to an end. Since he arrived in Normandy, Rennes have benefited from typical sparks of brilliance as he continued his run of form at the end of the 2020/21 season. Although the step-up in level to Ligue 1 has undoubtedly meant that the Ghanian has had to acclimate to a higher intensity of play and a more physical style, this hasn’t stopped him from producing. Sulemana’s game has a specialist skill – dribbling. Ligue 1 fans have been treated to many a thrilling moment since his arrival with the Ghanaian international often taking off on foraying runs or tormented opposition defenders with his skill. Confidence is often linked to players who attempt lots of dribbles, but Sulemana has the execution and efficiency to back up that belief in his ability.

As of mid-December, the versatile forward has averaged over four dribbles per 90 minutes (4.41 at the time of writing) since he arrived in Ligue 1 which is only beaten by PSG’s world record signing Neymar. This effortless ability to carry the ball forwards, embarrass defenders and start attacks makes him one of Europe’s outstanding dribblers – ranking in the top one percent for dribbles completed and players beaten per 90 minutes.

Prolificity in front of goal is another part of the Ghanian’s game which has flourished in his first six months for Les Rouges et Noirs. Sulemana has managed five goals in 25 appearances in all competitions so far, which may not seem like such a high total but when you look into the number of shots he’s taking and how he’s scoring these goals, it’s a good return.

Sulemana is averaging one goal per 246 minutes of Ligue 1 action, a figure not unsatisfactory for a player operating wide left or wide right of a stand-alone striker. A goal every three games is impeccable for most players, never mind someone who’s just 19 and making his debut season in one of Europe’s top five leagues and in European competition too.

The frequency at which he’s scored during his first six months of Ligue 1 action is impressive, but his efficiency in front of goal is even more so. An efficient finishing ability is rare but Sulemana seems to have it in abundance. In Ligue 1, Sulemana has had six shots on target in his first 16 appearances which resulted in four goals – a success rate of 67%. He’s also massively outperforming his xG which stood at 2.1 after 16 matches.

The manner in which he’s scored his goals is impressive as well. On his debut against Lens, he cut inside after beating his man and curled a superb strike home off the post, announcing himself to Ligue 1 with a bang. However, a goal against Metz typified Sulemana’s style. After bringing the ball down with an excellent first touch, he teased helpless Metz defender Matthew Udol and beat him with ease, before unleashing a beautiful strike that sailed in off the crossbar.

The selfless side to Sulemana’s game is something that often goes unnoticed. From a creative perspective, he’s often involved in linkup play and transitions, which isn’t surprising considering the dangerous positions he occupies thanks to some excellent dribbling and positioning. An assist came in a standout performance against PSG which ended Mauricio Pochettino’s side’s unbeaten run at the start of the season. In addition, from a defensive perspective, he also presses effectively and often wins the ball back in front of the defence, which leads to enticing counter-attack opportunities.

2021 is the year that Kamaldeen Sulemana announced himself to football fans globally for both Rennes and Nordsjaelland and, at just 19, he’s destined for big things in 2022 and beyond.

Liam Wraith

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L’Équipe report that Lens defender Facundo Medina has been in police custody since this morning as part of an investigation into suspicions of assault on his ex-girlfriend.

The events are alleged to have taken place on Christmas Eve, after what is said to have been an argument between the two. The Argentine denies this, while a source close to the player asserts that it was the girlfriend who threw herself at his neck before he pushed her away, without assaulting her.

L’Équipe add that the young woman has been given one day off work and filed a formal complaint. Medina was called up to the police station to explain himself, before then being taken into custody. His hearing is said to have ended this afternoon, although no indication on the next legal steps in the case have come to light. 

Lens, having been asked to comment by L’Équipe, have decided against making a statement for the time being.

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RMC Sport report tonight that Lyon have made a formal bid of €4m for striker Sardar Azmoun, and have agreed personal terms with the Iranian. However, an agreement is yet to be found with Zenit Saint Petersburg, who are still looking for a replacement.

Les Gones had already found an agreement for a contract with the forward at the start of December, after the 26-year-old already came close to joining in the summer. The Russian club had blocked the move for similar reasons several months ago.

Both outgoing Sporting Director Juninho and manager Peter Bosz have both expressed their interest in bringing in the striker, who has seven league goals so far this season. With Zenit already out of the Champions League, the club may be more open to selling this winter given that Azmoun’s contract expires at the end of the season.

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As reported by Ignazio Genuardi, Italian club AC Milan are ready to maintain their pursuit of Lille defender Sven Botman, despite being faced with the newly-colossal resources of Newcastle United.

With this in mind, the Serie A side are preparing to commit greater resources to the deal to push through negotiations. Milan have already reached an agreement with the representatives of the former Ajax defender, who was also notably approached by Atalanta and Manchester United last summer, reports Genuardi.

Lille turned down an initial €35m bid from Newcastle earlier this week. The French club are keen to keep the defender until the end of the season with their Champions League campaign ongoing and are not open to any sort of loan arrangement. A large bid, however, could be too good to turn down for a club struggling with their financial situation – even if that situation has improved of late.

Furthermore, as GFFN reported this week, Botman may not be overly keen on a move to Newcastle. 21-year-old Botman placed 18th in the new GFFN 100, read his profile right here.

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As reported by RMC, teenage midfielder Lucas Gourna-Douath of Saint-Étienne may not finish the season with the club.

The 18-year-old defensive midfielder is unhappy at the lack of game time he has seen of late which could change his plans to stay at the club in the shorter term.

The player has made 43 Ligue 1 appearances for ASSE so far in his short career but has often been limited to a bench role of late. 

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As reported by L’Équipe, Strasbourg defender Anthony Caci will move to Bundesliga club Mainz at the end of his contract in the summer.

The sports daily report the versatile defender has already signed a four-year contract with the German side, having been subject to interest from Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt also.

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The 24-year-old played for both France under 21s and the Olympic side in the summer having amassed 98 appearances for Strasbourg since the 2016/17 season so far.

Speaking with So Foot, former Montpellier midfielder Younès Belhanda spoke about his frustration at a lack of transfer offers after Montpellier’s 2012 title winning campaign and a huge contract offer from the Middle-East.

“During the summer of 2013, I was fed up with everything. In 2012, after the title win, I didn’t get any offers, as if everything I had done that year wasn’t of interest to anyone. There were a few contacts with Inter but it didn’t lead to anything. Maybe it was my agent at the time who kept any offers from me? In any case, I took it badly, it seemed illogical to me. Meanwhile, at the same time, Olivier Giroud was approached by Arsenal. I asked myself: ‘What more do I actually have to do?’ It’s not a question of ego, just a question of recognition.“

“I felt that my cycle in Montpellier was over and that I had to do something else after four years there. I had to adapt, but it was difficult, because, during the 2012/13 pre-season, I broke my ankle during a match in Gambia with Morocco. The following year was much weaker than the previous one. My game changed because I lost Giroud – a guy who plays for you and has got your back. With him, I was always in the game, but with Emanuel Herrera, who played deeper, the need for a number 10 was less important. By the end of the season, I’d still scored ten goals, but it was the same – no offers.”

“I was about to sign for Al-Jazeera, as no European clubs called me. I went there, all alone. But, all of a sudden, my agent called me and said: “If you want to stay in Europe, I have Dynamo Kiev for you.” And since I wanted to stay in Europe, I went to Dynamo Kiev. So it was not a question of money, I would have had much more at Al-Jazeera. They already made me an offer of €6m per year for five years. If that was what motivated me, I would have been there for a long time!”

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As reported by Foot Mercato, Ligue 1 strugglers Bordeaux have begun negotiations over the transfer of Marseille’s Spanish defender Álvaro González.

The 32-year-old centre-back is Les Girondins’ priority defensive signing this January and the player’s entourage have entered talks over a move but, the outlet says, it will be necessary to convince the player that the move is the right one.

Both Valencia and Strasbourg have made contact over the player as well in recent days.

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As reported by Fabrizio Romano, 21-year-old Lille striker Jonathan David will not be leaving the Ligue 1 champions this month. Arsenal are also now mentioned as a possible destination for David but nothing is advanced between the parties as yet with many clubs in the frame.

In an interview with Radio Canada last month, the player’s agent explained: “The Premier League is a great option for him. I think he likes Spain lots too. These two leagues are the main priorities for him, but nothing is ruled out. You never know with PSG or the big Italian clubs.”

A summer departure for the Canadian striker now seems very likely with Lille expected to make large squad changes at the end of the season.

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As reported by RMC, Nantes’ in-demand striker Randal Kolo-Muani says he is unaware of interest from the Bundesliga and elsewhere but maybe close to a deal with Eintracht Frankfurt over a move at the end of the season after his contract expires.

Nantes, however, frustrated at the Bundesliga club’s long pursuit of their player have reportedly referred the case to FIFA – having also complained in the summer over the same situation – with the German club allegedly negotiating with the player before they were technically allowed to do so.

RMC also report that the 23-year-old forward had turned down a move this January to Freiburg, who had offered up to €9m for the player and agreed to loan him back to the Ligue 1 side for the rest of the season.

Speaking after Nantes’ Sunday draw with Monaco, the Frenchman explained: “I’m still focused on my football, I try to work and continue to work to give my all for this club. I don’t think about the future or what the media say… “We’ll talk about everything else at the end of the season. It’s easy for me, I let my family and my agents take care of all that. I only think about the pitch… I don’t know anything about it.”

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