- Bundesliga side 1. FC Nürnberg are in talks to sign Rennes centre-back Mikayil Faye, according to Sky Sports. The 22-year-old Senegalese international is currently with Rennes’ training camp in South Tyrol as negotiations progress. Nürnberg are reportedly seeking to bolster their defensive options with the versatile defender, who can also feature at left-back.
Faye joined Rennes in August 2023 for a reported fee of €10.3 million, having previously been unable to break into the first team at Barcelona. He signed for the Spanish giants in 2022 but did not make a competitive appearance for the club before his move to France. His time at Rennes has been relatively short, and the club appear open to a transfer after just one season.
Last season, Faye was loaned to Serie A side US Cremonese, but struggled for regular playing time. He made only two starts for the club as they finished bottom of the Italian top flight and suffered relegation. Despite limited opportunities in Italy, Nürnberg are seemingly convinced of his potential and believe he can contribute to their campaign in the 2. Bundesliga.
Nürnberg manager Miroslav Klose recently stated the club would approach the transfer market with caution, speaking to a local news outlet. This suggests any deal for Faye will need to align with the club’s financial strategy and long-term objectives. The potential arrival of Faye could provide competition and depth in Nürnberg’s defence, as they aim to improve on their mid-table finish last season. It remains to be seen if the move will provide Faye with the consistent first-team football he has been seeking.
