RC Lens sporting director slams Auxerre after failed Lassine Sinayoko transfer

Lassine Sinayoko’s failed transfer to RC Lens angered sporting director Jean-Louis Leca. The former Lens goalkeeper was negotiating a deal to sign the Mali international but the transfer fell through as the transfer deadline passed.

Lassine Sinayoko. What a strike. 🇲🇱✨ pic.twitter.com/ZwvMa2tvSa

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 8, 2025

The tall striker attracted interest from several Ligue 1 clubs and started the new season on a bright note, bagging two goals. Lens agreed to an €8 million fee with AJ Auxerre but the transfer failed to go through.

Leca told RMC Sport that Auxerre officials were to blame for the transfer not being finalized. “We did things properly. We travelled [to them], we didn’t do it over the phone. I went to eat with the sporting director and the president in Auxerre. We had a three-hour negotiation at the table. They threatened the player, told him that if he travelled, there would be legal action against him. The kid wanted to come, [but] he didn’t know where to go. He was taken hostage. When we saw this, I said ‘Stop!’”

The 25-year-old will now see out the final year of his contract at Auxerre. Lens instead signed Odsonne Edouard and managed to keep Guinea striker Morgan Guilavogui. Guilavogui was bound to sign for Southampton after being left out of last week’s training session, but ended up coming on as a substitute to score in a 3-1 win over Brest on matchday two.

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