After Ligue 2 drop, who leaves Nantes and who stays for the promotion push? | OneFootball

Relegated to Ligue 2 after Friday’s 1-0 defeat at Lens, Nantes face a major rebuild. Out-of-contract trio Anthony Lopes, Francis Coquelin and Youssef El Arabi are on their way out, with further movement likely.

According to L'Équipe, the club want an immediate return and will recruit an experienced coach to succeed Vahid Halilhodzic plus a head of recruitment. Lopes would have extended had they stayed up. Nantes turn to Alexis Mirbach and may extend back-up Patrik Carlgren, while Panathinaikos could try to keep Alban Lafont after his loan.

At the back, discussions are understood to be under way to extend full-backs Frédéric Guilbert and Mathieu Acapandié. Deiver Machado and Uros Radakovic depart after survival-linked deals, while loans for Abakar Sylla and Nicolas Cozza end. Ali Yousuf, Chidozie Awaziem and Kelvin Amian should be retained, with Sekou Doucouré, Fabien Centonze and Jean-Kévin Duverne also under contract, while Tylel Tati has suitors, including Chelsea last winter.

In midfield, Coquelin’s stint ends, though he is not retiring. Mohamed Kaba returns to Lecce and Rémy Cabella to Olympiakos. Nantes count on Johann Lepenant, Louis Leroux, Ibrahima Sissoko and Bahmed Deuff, and Lamine Diack comes back from Sion after limited minutes.

Up front, Amady Camara’s loan from Sturm Graz expires. Nantes would like to rely on Ignatius Ganago and Mostafa Mohamed, with Yassine Benhattab back from Reims, while academy pair Dehmaine Tabibou and Herba Guirassy face decisions. Matthis Abline will leave amid Monaco interest, and Nantes do not plan discounts on him or Tati, helped by a lower wage bill and €12 million in relegation support to be shared between two or three clubs after the play-off.

Source: L'Équipe