Mad Mercato & First win of the season: Brest's big weekend
One To Watch
After two losses at the beginning of the season against Marseille (1-5) and RC Lens (2-0) it was starting to look like August was a damp squib to start the season off for Stade Brestois. Yet last weekend saw Éric Roy's Pirates plunder their way through Saint-Étienne (4-0) for their first win of the season, with a jam-packed deadline day that also provided plenty of opportunity for the Breton side to reinforce their side with a few treasure gems heading into a historic first Champions League season.
Les Ti'Zefs are currently preparing to buccaneer their way through the UCL league phase from September onwards, and with the departures of some key players, sporting director Grégory Lorenzi and his recruitment department had their work cut out going into the final days of the Summer transfer window.
First up was Stade Rennais attacking midfielder Ibrahim Salah who joined the club on loan until the end of the season. The 23-year-old celebrated his birthday signing with Les Pirates, after having represented Rennes in 36 matches over the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, Jérémy Le Douaron made a permanent switch to Palermo, but Brest would quickly turn their attention to announcing the signing of former Lens and Angers attacking midfielder Massadio Haïdara before the return of striker Kamory Doumbia to the club on a permanent deal which lasts until 2029.
Les Pirates weren't done yet: Former Premier League midfielder Edimilson Fernandes then signed on loan from Bundesliga club Mainz, before one last roll of the dice from Brest. Late in the evening Olympique Lyonnais and former Troyes striker Mama Baldé signed on loan for the rest of the season.
To say the least, the international break comes at a good time for all concerned at Brest, for those signings to settle in and for Roy's squad to kick-on ahead of a busy month of action in September...
READ MORE:
