1. FC Nürnberg are exploring a deal to sign Rennes defender Mikayil Faye as they prepare for the new 2. Bundesliga campaign. The Bavarian club, currently stationed at a pre-season training camp in South Tyrol, have identified the 22-year-old Senegalese centre-back as a potential target, according to Sky Sports.
The interest comes as manager Miroslav Klose assesses his defensive options ahead of the upcoming season. Faye presents a versatile profile; while primarily a central defender, he is also capable of operating at left-back. This flexibility could prove useful as Klose builds a squad capable of handling the division’s demanding schedule.
However, any move for Faye would carry notable risk based on his recent match history. The former Barcelona prospect joined Rennes in 2024 for a fee of €10.3 million but failed to make a senior competitive appearance for the Catalan giants. He subsequently spent the previous campaign on loan at Italian side US Cremonese, yet he started only two league matches as the club finished bottom of Serie A and dropped into the second tier.
Klose has publicly cautioned against rushed recruitment. In an interview with a local outlet, he emphasised that Nürnberg must approach the transfer market slowly, signalling that any addition would need to align with a deliberate squad-building strategy. He did not comment specifically on the link to Faye.
No formal agreement currently exists between Nürnberg and Rennes. The German club are continuing their evaluation process while in South Tyrol, weighing whether the defender’s potential outweighs his lack of recent playing time. For Faye, a switch to the 2. Bundesliga could provide the stable first-team environment he requires to revive a career that has stalled following high-profile transfers to Barcelona and Rennes.