Toifilou Maoulida has penned a four-year contract with Monaco, while the principality club are closing in on a loan deal for Olivier Kapo.
Maoulida quits Rennes after one season at the Stade de la Route de Lorient in which he scored seven goals in 31 matches. The ex-Metz forward becomes Monaco’s third recent signing after goalkeeper Guillaume Warmuz and midfielder Olivier Sorlin, also from Rennes.
Barcelona ace Gerard looks certain to follow in the coming days, while Coach Didier Deschamps is stepping up efforts to sign France international Kapo.
The former Auxerre forward has made just two starts for Juventus after moving to Italy last summer and admitted recently that he was flattered by Deschamps’s interest.
However, Monaco are reluctant to spend big this summer – their three signings so far have all been free transfers – and are reportedly trying to negotiate a one-year loan deal with Kapo and the Italian champions.
Monaco striker Shabani Nonda, top scorer in France in 2003, looks certain to leave the Stade Louis II, but may not join Juventus as expected.
Fabio Capello has told Nonda that he would be the fifth-choice forward at the Stadio Delle Alpi behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Trezeguet, Alessandro Del Piero and Adrian Mutu – words that have obviously not filled the DR Congo international with enthusiasm.
The 27-year-old could now opt to stay in France, with Marseille, Lille and Lens reportedly standing by.
Elsewhere, Nice are closing in on veteran Brazilian striker Sonny Anderson, while Rennes ‘keeper Andreas Isaksson is being linked with a move to Manchester United.
Lyon are set to renew their interest in Luis Figo after the Portuguese star was told he could leave Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.