A Bidding War for a French Prodigy: Bayern Munich and PSG Lock Horns for Rennes Starlet

It is not often that a player’s name can act as the starting point for a story about their sporting prowess. But Stade Rennais midfielder Desire Doue, 19, is not your average player.

His first name can literally be translated into English as ‘wanted’, or ‘desired’. And that he most certainly is this summer. Doue, who is currently representing France at the Olympic Games and scored in their 3-0 win over New Zealand on Tuesday evening, is one of the most coveted footballers in Europe right now.

He has attracted serious interest from multiple clubs, but the frontrunners so far have been Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich and reigning French champions Paris Saint-Germain. Both clubs have made offers for him that have so far been rejected by Rennes. A source with knowledge of their interest at PSG, speaking on condition of anonymity, has suggested they are yet to go beyond €40million (£33.7m, $43.2m) guaranteed with their bid, despite reports to the contrary. He is, though, a serious target, with club president Nasser Al Khelaifi personally involved in trying to secure his signature.

The other part of Doue’s name points to why there is so much interest. For the uninitiated, Doue translates to ‘gifted’, and that too is a fitting moniker.

“He is a complete player, both technical, fast and powerful,” said France Under-17 coach Jose Alcocer, speaking to Le Parisien. “He can play with his right foot and his left foot, he is able to unblock situations with a shot or a strike. He can also eliminate his opponents with the ball at his feet. His time with the pros has done him good, he has moved up a notch with his presence in the game and his impact. He has reached a new level.”

Alcocer was speaking ahead of the under-17 European Championship final two years ago, a tournament in which, alongside then Rennes team-mate and now Bayern star Mathys Tel, and PSG prodigy Warren Zaire-Emery, Doue’s France side triumphed.

In the two seasons since then, Doue has caught the eye in Ligue 1 and is now seen as the next great talent to emerge from the Breton club’s academy, following in the footsteps not only of Tel in recent times but Ousmane Dembele, Eduardo Camavinga and Sacha Boey. This past season in particular, 2023-24, his strength on the ball, his fleetness of foot and his match-winning technical ability in the final third, came to the fore and that has made him so appealing to the big clubs.

He has also shown that he can play in a variety of roles over the past two seasons and that, as The Athletic has previously outlined, actually makes him a slightly more difficult player to profile, because of just how versatile he is. But the basic tenets of his ability, particularly on the ball, both technically and physically, have always been evident across his 12 years at Rennes.

He joined the club at age five and a half, receiving a rare proposal for a registration at that age, following the trial that saw his brother Guela — three years his senior — recruited with the under-nines. His strongest attributes were immediately obvious — above all his ability to carry the ball. This was something he enjoyed so much that at under-11s when he was told to restrict his touches, he told his father he wanted to quit altogether. “At that time they wanted to put him defence, and he was told to play one touch,” his father Maho told RMC Sport. “It was an electric shock.”

Desire would play with his brother in Rennes’ reserve side before joining him in the first team. Guela is not the only footballer in the family. His cousins Yann Ghobo and Marc-Olivier Doue are currently on the books of Toulouse and Spanish side CD Eldense.

He caught the eye swiftly after breaking into the first team. He made his professional debut against Lorient in August 2022 and scored his first professional goal three weeks later against Brest — becoming the first player born in 2005 to score in Europe’s top five major leagues.

Two months later, in October, he became France’s youngest goalscorer in European club competitions with a 90th-minute winner in the Europa League against Dynamo Kyiv.

He then scored a stunning volley against Breton rivals Nantes three days later. In February, he provided a goal and assist against Strasbourg, making him the youngest player to do so in a Ligue 1 game since Opta began coverage in the league in 2006-07 (aged 17 years and 243 days).

It is his attacking qualities that help him stand out. Unsurprisingly, he has played many of his minutes in an attacking midfield role, notably preferring the left-hand side. There, he can go past defenders one-on-one before delivering crosses or smart, reverse passes into the area. Such as here, against RC Lens, before the end of last season.

He has played in nearly every attacking position: on the left wing, on the right, behind a striker and as a centre-forward. Those positions suit his characteristics, particularly as he is so fleet-footed. But he has also played in a deeper midfield role, particularly under coach Julien Stephan.

This has seen him drag his team upfield through his progressive carries, turning defence into attack, and then securing the right pass. Last season, no midfielder averaged more than his 4.3 progressive carries per 90 minutes in Ligue 1. Doue displayed this recently for France, as part of their Olympics side, driving forward from midfield before playing the right pass into the path of his team-mate, Arnaud Kalimuendo.

For Doue it has been educational too, honing the defensive elements of his game. His goal against Dynamo Kyiv was a great example of a pressure to secure a high turnover, while here, against Monaco, he is able to read the game to start a counter-attack.

In his first season, he was averaging nearly three tackles per game. “When I play No 6, it already requires me to be disciplined, to make defensive efforts that are not necessarily in my nature at the base, but that I have learned to do. Helping the team to recover balls, to bring them higher, to distribute, it is also having fun on the field. It is a position that allows me to gain maturity, to calm down.”

Doue has now built a strong haul of more than 3,000 minutes in the French top flight, which is impressive for a 19-year-old. He has not had a full season of starts yet. During his first season, under Bruno Genesio, Doue made 13 starts out of 34 league appearances overall and then, during his second season with the senior team, he made 25 starts from 42 league appearances, mainly under Stephan.

It has not all been plain sailing within that time. Under Genesio, he was taken off as a substitute after just 18 minutes away at Lyon last season. Genesio told Amazon Prime Video Sport after that game: “It does not mean I don’t have great trust in him and that he’ll fail to make a great career, but some things need to be understood faster.”

He struggled for minutes initially under Genesio this season, before his dismissal and replacement by Stephan. “I told myself that if I wasn’t on the field, it’s because I had to improve,” Doue said in May. “I worked, I asked for advice, that’s why I have a little more playing time today.” In the new year, he cemented a regular starting spot, starting all but two of the club’s remaining league games for which he was available.

“I am delighted with his progress, because when I arrived he played little in the first month, and it was a crucial period in observing his behaviour,” Stephan said. “I saw someone disappointed, frustrated, but fully committed to his job. Afterwards, by focusing more, being efficient and showing a lot of personality in high-stakes matches, he showed his qualities, his versatility, and that is a strength. He has a very positive development. Sometimes, there are small relapses and it bounces back, it is inevitable at that age, but overall, his progression curve is constant, going in the right direction.” 

Rennes are no strangers to losing their best talent and this summer has already seen some big departures. Martin Terrier has left for German champions Bayer Leverkusen, along with 19-year-old Jeanuel Belocian. Enzo Le Fee has moved to Roma, while Doue’s older brother, Guela, has also joined Strasbourg.

Rennes will not want to let the other Doue go lightly. But there is a recognition, too, that he may have his heart set on a bigger stage.

“Do I expect not to see Desire Doue again? That he is being courted is not a surprise,” said Stephan earlier this month. “Now it is in the hands of the future buyers and the management in the negotiation. If there is an offer that meets the club’s expectations — that is to say very, very high — maybe he will leave. If there is not that, he will stay.”

The Bidding War Heats Up: Tottenham Falls Behind

The recent confirmation that PSG winger Xavi Simons will join RB Leipzig on loan may just inject a bit more energy into the Doue pursuit. Bayern were interested in Simons, having explored a purchase and loan possibility, but they ultimately missed out. PSG, meanwhile, will want to replace Simons’ quality within their squad for the forthcoming campaign too.

Fabrizio Romano, a renowned transfer journalist, revealed that Tottenham Hotspur, who had been in the running for Doue, has fallen behind in the race for the young star. Both Bayern and PSG have made significant offers, with Bayern's bid reportedly reaching €55 million and PSG's exceeding €60 million, the figure Rennes is looking for.

Romano further stated, “I think he will not go to Spurs, it will be between PSG and Bayern. Bayern already presented a new bid €55m package, PSG’s bid is around €60m, exactly what Rennes want. I think it could be this week, but it’s not guaranteed yet.”

This development has prompted speculation about Tottenham’s potential pursuit of other players, like Eberechi Eze, who is considered one of Ange Postecoglou’s top targets. However, securing the 25-year-old from Crystal Palace is expected to be a challenging task.

Tottenham’s recent signing of South Korean winger Min-hyeok Yang and their existing young talent pool have strengthened their options, but the failure to secure Doue underscores the competitive nature of the transfer market. As Tottenham continues its pursuit of new additions, the race for Doue's signature will be a key storyline to watch in the coming days and weeks.

The Future for Doue: A Diamond in the Rough

There is no doubt that Doue is capable of performing at the highest level. Like Camavinga and Dembele before him, it looks like Rennes have unearthed another gem, and the monetary value of that diamond may well become clear in the coming days and weeks.

It remains to be seen which club will secure Doue's signature. The battle between Bayern Munich and PSG is shaping up to be an intense one, with both clubs eager to add a talented young player to their ranks. The decision will likely come down to Doue’s own preferences and the club that offers the most appealing platform for his development. Regardless of where he ends up, one thing is certain: Desire Doue is a player with the potential to become one of the most exciting talents in world football.