Who is Desire Doue? The Rennes wonderkid Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea all want

Robin Bairner

27 May 2024 06:10 CDT
7 min read

Desire Doue is set to follow the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Eduardo Camavinga in becoming a major star to be grown in the Rennes academy system.

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Dembele and Camavinga are now with PSG and Real Madrid respectively, and there are hopes that the teenage midfielder can follow in their footsteps.

Last season, at 17 years old, he notched a game-winning goal in the Europa League against Dynamo Kyiv in just his second European appearance. In netting, he became the first player born in 2005 to score for a club from the ‘Big 5’ leagues in continental competition, beating Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, who came through the Bretons’ youth ranks with him before winning a big-money move to the Bundesliga champions in the summer.

There is a sense that there is so much more to come from the young Frenchman.

So just what is all the fuss about?

Current ETV

Désiré Doué

AM, M (C), F (L)

Stade Rennais

Désiré Doué

AM, M (C), F (L)

Stade Rennais

ETV Range

€15.8M - €26.3M

What position does Desire Doue play?

Desire Doue has typically featured on the left wing for Rennes this season, acting as a wide playmaker.

In the past, however, he has featured more centrally as a No.10 or even a No.8.

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How good is Desire Doue?

During the second half 2023/24 season, Doue established himself as a starter for Rennes after initially showing signs of inconsistency in his performances as is the case of many young players.

Impressively, he has managed to save many of his best performances for the big occasion, which suggests that he has strong mentality and the capacity to make it at the top level.

He notched an assist against PSG and came away from a 3-0 loss against AC Milan at San Siro in the Europa League with immense credit, having looked entirely comfortable in those surroundings.

Data analytics experts SciSports already rate Doue as one of the best players in his position in Ligue 1.

STATS

Désiré Doué

AM, M (C), F (L)

Stade Rennais

Désiré Doué

AM, M (C), F (L)

Stade Rennais

29

Games
4

Goals
4

Assists

His strengths are in the technical side of the game. He is an excellent dribbler, with an eye-catching capacity to manipulate the ball. Indeed, below the absolute elite dribblers in Ligue 1 like Rayan Cherki and the PSG trio of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola, he is better than anyone.

He also passes the ball smoothly and is particularly good around the box.

Doue is not so strong defensively – a little ironic given his brother Guela is playing regularly at right-back for Rennes – while his crossing is an area of his game that needs work.

But he has already shown a capacity for improvement, as predicted by former head coach Bruno Genesio after his goal against Kyiv.

“He will have to improve his decision making very quickly. But he has a lot of self-confidence, which allowed him to go and win the ball and to score the goal. He’s a very young player, but doing what he has been doing for some time, at his age, shows a very high level of potential,” Genesio said at the time.

Doue has listened and has addressed his weaknesses.

Desire Doue.

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When does Desire Doue’s contract expire?

Doue has a contract that runs until 30 June, 2026.

What clubs are interested in Desire Doue?

Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund have all been linked with a move for Doue by various sources as a massive transfer battle for the young Frenchman looms.

PSG have also entered the race, with the strong relationship between Doue's agent Moussa Sissoko and the Ligue 1 champions thought to give them an edge.

According to RMC, Arsenal, Man Utd and PSG are the favourites.

His increased consistency appears to have convinced these super clubs that he is ready to go.