Stade Rennais are looking towards Serie A for a new midfielder, according to L’Equipe, including Roma star Nemanja Matic and ex-Milan and Napoli player Tiemoue Bakayoko.
The news comes as they need to replace Lesley Ugochukwu, who is on the verge of completing his €30m transfer to Chelsea.
Bakayoko would obviously be the favourite, especially as he is a free agent after Chelsea decided to terminate his contract by mutual consent.
He had several loan spells in Italy, but Milan – twice – and Napoli were not sufficiently impressed to activate the option to buy.
This would be a return to Rennes for Bakayoko, who spent time in their youth academy.
Another candidate for Stade Rennais is said to be Matic, who only joined Roma for free from Manchester United last summer.
The Serbia international will turn 35 next week and his contract with the Giallorossi runs to the end of this season, although there is an option to extend for one more year.