Les Rouges et Noirs are actively looking for a replacement for Nemanja Matic (35), who only joined the club last summer, but is already set to depart, with Olympique Lyonnais having shown keen interest to sign the player. Matusiwa joined Reims from FC Groningen back in 2021 and has since become one of the club’s top performers under Will Still, balancing out a very offence-oriented and intense midfield.

Though not as tall as Matic, Matusiwa would provide a similar form of holding play and distribution abilities, also proving very tough to get by in through dribbling. Rennes are currently 10th in Ligue 1, and are looking to improve their squad in order to fight for European qualification spots come the end of the season.

GFFN | Alfred Lalande

Teuma has had an atypical career to say the least. Starting off with French fourth and third-division sides Hyères FC and US Boulogne, before moving to Red Star FC in 2017, with whom he discovered the French Ligue 2, at the age of 25. His profile caught the eye of then Belgian second division side Union St Gilloise who were looking to build a cheap but strong side in order to push for promotion into the Jupiler Pro League, which they succeeded in doing in part thanks to Teuma’s performance in the 20/21 season, during which he scored five and assisted seven goals.

He continued to play well in the first division, regularly featuring amongst the best players in the league, but his final season at the club proved to be the best, scoring 13 and handing out 17 assists as USG went deep into the Europa League while subsequently pushing for the JPL title. This encouraged Reims to go out and spend €4.6 million last summer in order to secure his services, as the side looked to bring attacking threat and creativity to an already well-secured midfield.

Teuma becomes Reims’ main man amid AFCON & Asian Cup absences

Teuma brought just that, scoring long shots and freekicks in a seemingly easy manner, but also supplying his teammates with exquisite passing and all-around creativity and assuredness on the ball, allowing others to thrive in the spaces that he creates. He has proved to be essential to Still’s tactical set-up, though his decreasing endurance and stamina have often meant that he has to be subbed off around an hour into the game. The price to pay for the team’s joint-top goal contributor, tied with Junya Ito (30), Marshall Munetsi (27) and Mohamed Daramy (21), having scored four and assisted two this season.

With both Munetsi and Ito off to the AFCON and the AFC Asian Cup respectively, Teuma has the hefty responsibility of carrying his team’s offensive creativity throughout some of January and February, before pushing for the European spots at the end of the season.

GFFN | Alfred Lalande

 It’s strange to think back and realise there were question marks surrounding the club’s move for the Japanese international when he joined from Genk in 2022. 

The winger had arguably grown into one of the best players in the Belgian league during his three-and-a-half-year stay in the nation, but there are always some doubts when a player steps into an unfamiliar league. 

These questions were perhaps compounded by the fact that the player was 29 when he made his move to Ligue 1, there was a feeling that if he had the talent then why would he not have been caught by a club earlier?

These suspicions were unfounded. The winger was exceptional for Reims last season and adjusted to his new surroundings easily, as he became crucial to Les Rouges et Blancs’ historic nineteen-game unbeaten run in the league. 

Itō was a key attacking outlet for the team. His technical brilliance was a constant threat, as his balance and poise on the ball mixed with a natural two-footedness to leave his markers constantly second-guessing where his intentions lay.

Itō building on strong first season

This season has been no different for the Japanese international, and in some aspects, there has even been an improvement on the ‘impressive’ maiden season. For one, according to FBRef, the winger is now successful 52.3% of the time he dribbles past an opponent compared to 44% the season before. 

At the midpoint of the season, Itō has also almost matched his assist tally for the entirety of last year, having assisted his teammates four times compared to the five he recorded in the previous campaign. 

It’s no wonder that his manager Will Still has become increasingly concerned about his absence in January when the player will represent Japan at the Asian Cup. His presence will be sorely missed while representing his nation, as he has in his short time at Reims become an irreplaceable force in their attack.

GFFN | Nicholas Hartland

Matić infuriated Rennes’ hierarchy when he left the city in order to force through a move away from the club. Whilst the Serbian international has since publicly apologised and returned to the club, a showdown meeting with executives on Monday failed to resolve the situation. It has, however, been agreed that both parties will try and facilitate a departure this month. 

Rennes are already moving to sign a replacement. Les Rennais were knocked back in their attempts to sign Stade Brestois’ Pierre Lees-Melou (30). The former Norwich City midfielder recently signed a new contract and is considered to be untransferable. 

Rennes have now turned to Reims. Having initially shown an interest in Amir Richardson (21), currently on AFCON duty, their attention has now turned to midfield partner Matusiwa. According to Hawkins, a €13m bid has even been submitted to sign the Dutch midfielder. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

A diminished Stade de Reims side secured a deserved 3-1 victory over AS Monaco to put themselves back in the conversation for European football next season. 

It was a game short on clear-cut opportunities. Reims, despite their many AFCON and Asian Cup absences were solid and well-organised and were difficult to break down, even if Monaco didn’t ask many questions of them. Kassoum Ouattara looked the most threatening, but the French wing-back, making his first Ligue 1 start for the Principality club, lacked the finishing touch after having found himself in some dangerous situations. 

However, he did tee-up Wissam Ben Yedder for Monaco’s best chance of the first half. Ouattara’s cross was met by the unmarked ben Yedder, but well saved by Yehvann Diouf. 

However, it was Reims who took the lead thanks to a sublime curled effort from Teddy Teuma midway through the frst-half. Les Monégasques were lacking in inspiration and replaced Maghnes Akliouche with Folarin Balogun at half-time. That change had an immediate effect with Monaco levelling just after the break through a flicked Ben Yedder header from an Aleksandr Golovin shot. 

Reims, however, struck back immediately through Réda Khadra, who completed a brilliant solo effort with a neat finish past Philipp Köhn. There was no reaction from Monaco who looked to accpet their fate. Instead it was Reims who got the final goal with Azor Matusiwa ensuring the three points late in injury-time. 

Les Stadistes move up to fifth and ahead of Marseille, whilst Monaco remain in third and could be caught by Stade Brestois this weekend. 

Monaco player ratings

Philipp Köhn – 5

Thilo Kehrer – 5

Guillermo Maripán – 2

Monaco’s most experienced centre-back has been unconvincing for large parts of the season and was at fault for MoReims’ second, which handed the momentum back to the visting side. He was uncharatceristically weak in duels, winging just three of his seven. 

Soungoutou Magassa – 2

The France U21 international has looked at home in an unfamiliar position the since the start of the season, but he looked ill at ease against Reims, commiting freuent, and sometimes costly errors and being too light in the duels. 

Kassoum Ouattara – 5

Denis Zakaria – 6

Monaco’s most convincing player. Zakaria was tidy in possession and did well covering his struglging centre-backs and making some crucial interceptions. A solid match but not a decisive one for the Swiss international. 

Youssouf Fofana – 4

Vanderson – 4

Aleksandr Golovin – 5

Maghnes Akliouche – 3

Absent in the first half, he couldn’t get involved and when finding himself on the ball in dangerous areas, he lacked the touch and composure to make the difference. He was logically replaced by Folarin Balogun (4) at the break. 

Wissam Ben Yedder – 5

Reims selected player ratings

Teddy Teuma – 7 

Lit up what was a turgid affair in the first-half with a brilliant curling finish from outside the box. In the absence of some key players, he took the mantle as the creator-in-chief, but also the goalscorer. Well-poisitioned and determined out of possession, it was a complete performance from Teuma, who had a considerable impact on the final score. 

Mamadou Diakhon – 6

Réda Khadra – 6

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

As expected, many of Reims’ biggest names have been called up by their respective sides, not only for the AFCON, but also for the Asian Cup. Yunis Abdelhamid, Ibrahim Diakité, Oumar Diakité, Amir Richardson, Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura are all asbent. Injuries are helping either. Marshall Munetsi and Maxime Busi are both out injured against Monaco, and as a result, Still will have to resort to fielding an inexperienced side. 

Mamadou Diakhon will be given his chance. The 18-year-old forward impressed in the Coupe de France last weekend, netting a brace.

Reims likely lineup v Monaco

Yehvann Diouf; Thibault De Smet, Emmanuel Agbadou, Joseph Okumu, Thomas Foket; Teddy Teuma, Azor Matusiwa, Reda Khadra; Mohamed Daramy, Amine Salama, Mamadou Diakhon. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Hütter has often preferred to play two No.1s and one striker, but Minamino’s absence could cause the Austrian manager to reconsider his formation. Against RC Lens in the Coupe de France, Maghnes Akliouche started behind Ben Yedder and Balogun, with Aleksandr Golovin suspended. Whilst Golovin’s return offers the possibility of a return to Hütter’s favoured system of two No.10s behind the striker, the choice could be made to once again partner Balogun and Ben Yedder. 

Elsewhere, there are no fresh injury concerns. Caio Henrique, Breel Embolo and Eliot Matazo remain absent, as does Eliesse Ben Seghir, however the latter is nearing a return and only just missed out on the matchday squad. The Principality club are being particularly prudent with the Frenchman after a severe shoulder injury. 

Monaco likely lineup v Reims

Philipp Köhn; Thilo Kehrer, Guillermo Maripán, Soungoutou Magassa; Kassoum Ouattara, Denis Zakaria, Youssouf Fofana, Vanderson; Aleksandr Golovin; Wissam Ben Yedder, Folarin Balogun.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

As reported by Ouest-France and confirmed by L’Équipe, Rennes have submitted a €10m offer for Lees-Melou, who is part of a Brest side that currently sit in the European places. The French midfielder recently renewed his contract, and as a result, Les Pirates are not going to let him leave on the cheap. Les Rennais’ meagre offer has therefore been rejected, with Brest holding out for €20m for Lees-Melou. 

Rennes have also enquired about the availability of Richardson, who is currently in international duty with Morocco ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Reims midfielder doesn’t necessarily match the exact profile that Rennes are after, according to L’Équipe, but the Breton club are nonetheless considering a move for the promising player. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Due to the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup taking place from January until the second week of February, six players will be unavailable for Will Still’s Reims side due to their international commitments. This number could rise to seven with the release of Gambia’s selection on the 9th of January. 

This number adds to a burgeoning amount of players who are unavailable because of injury or suspension with right-back Thomas Foket (29) suspended for their next game, while Marshall Munetsi (27) will be out for the next few weeks due to an ankle injury. 

Still, will return to football next weekend with a depleted list of players ready for selection for their cup tie against Dinan-Léhon FC in the Coupe de France. However, there was some good news for the manager with Maxime Busi (24), Josh Wilson-Esbrand (21) and midfielder Valentin Atangana (18) all appearing to make a return from their injuries. 

Reims will not look to the transfer window for support 

Regardless of the circumstances, the Reims hierarchy has made it clear to Still that they will not dip into the transfer window this winter to provide further reinforcements. In a quotation provided by L’Équipe, the coach stated that ‘The management was clear on the fact that there would be no recruitment this winter.’ 

This was the exact situation that concerned Still last year when it was reported that he had been in conversations with Sunderland over the prospect of becoming their next manager. Still was reportedly worried that the club had no interest in providing cover for the outgoing players, and that he felt the team could not cope in their absence. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland