Franck Etouga Mbella: Asante Kotoko forward earns interest from French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais ahead of summer move |

French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais reportedly planning a summer move for Asante Kotoko forward according to a report in football Ghana.

The Ghanaian source claims that Asante Kotoko striker Frank Mbella has been linked with a move to Ligue 1 giants Stade Rennais.

Etouga Mbella has been one of the standout players in the Ghana Premier League this season along with compatriot George Mfegue.

Since joining the Porcupine Warriors at the beginning season, Mbella has scored 11 goals in the league and currently lead the Premier League top scorer chart.

It is not clear whether the league leaders will be willing to sell their marksman in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Kotoko are eyeing the Ghana Premier League title and returning to the Caf Champions League next season with Etouga Mbella expected to be a key man.

Mbella, 20, has been tipped to score more than 20 goals at the end of the season if he maintains his current form at the Kumasi based club.

A brace for the Cameroonian in Sunday’s Super clash against Hearts of Oak will see him break last season’s top scorer record of 12 goals with the Cameroon breaking it at the end of the first half.

Mbella scored 8 league goals/9 assists for AS Fortuna in the Cameroonian top flight before completing undisclosed fee transfer to Asante Kotoko. Since breaking into Kotoko starting lineup, the 20-year old has never looked back scoring hat-trick twice against Medeama SC and Accra Lions.

Mbella has also netted brace twice this season against Legon Cities at Dawu and Great Olympics at Baba Yara Stadium. His goal-scoring capability has since been tracked by French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais.

Rennais have enjoyed a good campaign sitting 5th place on the French Ligue 1 table, qualifying for next season’s Europa league as it stands now.

However, they are two place and 9 points below Champions League football. They lost to leaders Paris Saint-Germain last weekend but hosts weak side Troyes on Sunday as their search for Champions League continues.

Rennais have played the season with little goal-scoring problems netting a total of 43 goals emerging as the third top scoring side in the French Ligue 1 after PSG 52 goals and Strasbourg with 46.

However, the French side could not miss out on Mbella’s talent after reportedly watching matches of the Cameroonian forward in the Ghana Premier League. The French side were expected to launched a January bid but delayed ahead of summer.

As it stands now, it’s unclear whether Mbella’s parent club Asante Kotokon will let their prize asset leave in the summer- only a year into Mbella’s 3-year deal.

But there could be hopes for Rennais if they submit a big money offer for 20-year old’s signature. The Ghana Premier League side have issued a ‘no sale of their players this season’ on many platforms but they have been tempted to sell after clubs offering huge transfer money.

In the January transfer window, Sheriff Tiraspol beat Asante Kotoko to their unwillingness sale of players wish after the Moldovan outfit submitting lucrative bid to sign first choice goalkeeper Razak Abelora though no transfer fee has been revealed.

Just last week, exciting winger Joseph Amoako has been prized away from Asante Kotoko after Swedish side Helsingborgs IF submitting lucrative loan offer to the Reds.

The likes of Brazilian play-maker Fabio Gama and anchor-man Mudasiru Salifu sould have left the Ghana Premier League leaders by now with their pursuants only failing to offer big money in exchange for Gama and Mudasiru.

For Gama, ES Setif were interested with a move for the Brazilian at the beginning of this season but the Algerian side failed to submit a bid after learning they need to pay close to €1M for Fabio Gama.

South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns were interested in Mudasiru but the money that could get the deal done was reportedly financial draining for the PSL side. Despite the two deals collapsing till January, the deals are still on ahead of summer if prospective clubs can pull themselves together in financial terms and drag Asante Kotoko to the negotiation table.

The same circumstance applies to Mbella’s deal. Despite Kotoko claiming they are not selling their big stars, a submission of lucrative offer from Rennais could get Mbella signed at the end of Ghana Premier League season.

Mbella eyeing Hearts of Oak clash

Stade Rennais interest in Etouga Mbella tells how important the Cameroonian is to Asante Kotoko this season. After netting 11 times in the Ghana Premier League, much is expected of the forward ahead of this weekend biggest ever Ghana Premier League fixture when Kotoko and Hearts meet.

The current league leaders lost out on being crowned league champions last season after a 1-0 defeat to Hearts last term. Kotoko lead this season’s table with 36 points, and despite already being 12 points ahead of their rivals, the Porcupines can make a huge statement with a victory over Hearts of Oak on Sunday.

Kotoko have sometimes been unstoppable this season, winning 11 of their 16 league games and there is a real sense amongst fans that they can grab a 25th title this season, and Cameroonian forward Mbella seems eager to face rivals.

“Now I will enjoy the win against Accra Lions, go home, sleep and prepare for Hearts of Oak”, Mbella said in post-match conference.

Mbella has been a revelation for the Res this season, scoring in 11 times of his 12 Kotoko appearances and is the current top scorer of the Ghana Premier League.

His early-season exploits have left many of the Kotoko faithful raving and the striker is pleased with the support he is receiving from the club.

“I am very happy to score a hat-trick today, I say thank you to the team, management team and all of Kotoko. I am very happy”.

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