Mendy moved to Marseille from his formative club Le Havre AC in 2013, the former France international stayed with Les Phocéens for the next three seasons until he moved to AS Monaco where he became a league champion. 

In 2017, after just one season with Les Monégasques, Mendy was bought by Manchester City. The club would suspend the fullback in 2021 when he was arrested and charged with six counts of rape and one of sexual assault. 

Mendy would be acquitted of all charges in July 2023 and five days later would join FC Lorient following the expiration of his contract with Manchester City. Mendy has not made an appearance for Lorient since last season when the club were relegated to the second tier.

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Bakayoko only joined Lorient last summer after Bakayoko’s contract at Chelsea was mutually terminated after a series of loans away from his parent club. The one-time France international was a regular starter for Les Merlus last season during their ill-fated campaign that saw the club drop down from Ligue 1 to the second tier. 

Since being relegated Lorient have been keen to trim their squad and reduce their wage bill with Bakayoko being an obvious candidate for the club, and one that they have been interested in removing from their books. It’s been reported by L’Équipe that the midfielder will join PAOK on a year-long deal with an option to extend his stay for one further season. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Touré joined Lorient from Olympique de Marseille as part of an agreement which saw Bamo Meïté (22) sent the other way. Touré had been one of the big hopes for Marseille when he joined from Le Havre AC in 2022, and an impressive loan at AJ Auxerre during the 2022/23 season looked to be the launching pad for the young player’s career. 

However, he was instead sold to Lorient last season where he struggled and was relegated from Ligue 1 for the second year running. Touré has been earmarked for an exit and has not been involved in either of Lorient’s two matchday squads to start the new campaign. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Kroupi is considered one of the brightest talents within the Lorient side and this has not been lost on clubs across Europe who have been circling the waters for the Lorient academy player. The forward has been a target for Lille OSC, Sevilla FC, VfB Stuttgart, and Stade Rennais. 

However, Lorient have reportedly set a high asking price for the player which has priced these teams out of a transfer. Ouest France understands that due to this Kroupi has decided to remain at Lorient for the season 

Junior Kroupi to remain at Lorient for promotion push

This will be welcome news for Les Merlus who are looking to bounce back into the top flight after last season’s relegation from Ligue 1. Kroupi has already hit the ground running having scored a goal during the club’s opening two games. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Bamba only arrived at Lorient midway through last season when he joined the club from Austrian outfit Wolfsberger AC on a €5 million fee. Bamba looked an exceptional coup for the struggling club and made an immediate impact as he scored eight goals in 16 games. 

However, this was not enough for Lorient to avert a disastrous season and the club were relegated at the end of the 2023/24 campaign down to Ligue 2. Interest in Bamba remains high and AS Saint-Étienne were reportedly considering making a move for the Ivorian striker. 

Lorient are fully aware of the talent they possess and they are hoping to make a significant profit on a young striker who has not yet featured for them in either of their wins this season. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

After successive loans away from Stamford Bridge, Bakayoko’s contract at Chelsea was terminated by mutual consent last summer, allowing him to join Lorient on a free transfer. There, the former France international earned regular minutes. He featured 21 times for Les Merlus across all competitions, netting twice, including a goal against former club Monaco at the Stade Louis II. 

However, he couldn’t prevent Lorient from being relegated to Ligue 2. Having dropped out of Ligue 1, Lorient have needed to raise funds and lower their wage bill. Understandably, Bakayoko is a player that they have been keen to get off their books. 

L’Équipe understands that he is now set to join PAOK on a one-year deal with the option of a second. The value of the transfer has not yet been revealed. Bakayoko is set to earn €1m per year at the Greek side and is expected to be announced as a PAOK player on Friday. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The outlet understands that Mendy, as well as former Chelsea midfielder Bakayoko, Touré and Makengo, haven’t played a single minute since the end of last campaign. The four players are not even reportedly in Lorient anymore. “Sportingly, they know that these are not players that I particularly want to have in the group”, Pantaloni said in this Thursday’s press conference.

The former AC Ajaccio head coach confirmed that Mendy, Bakayoko, Touré and Makengo have all been deemed surplus to requirements and pushed towards the exit. “I don’t want the balance of the group to be disturbed or even hampered by the arrival in the team of players who do not want to experience a journey with FC Lorient.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Théo broke into the first team at Lorient under the stewardship of his uncle Régis. The latter has already left Les Merlus following their relegation to Ligue 2 last season, and the former could now follow suit. The versatile left-footed midfielder is the subject of interest from West Brom, who have intensified their enquiries in recent days. 

Whilst WBA may make concrete steps to sign Le Bris before the closure of the window, L’Équipe understands that they will first look to sign a holding midfielder, before advancing the deal for the Lorient man. It is thought that Le Bris, whose contract with Les Merlus runs until the summer of 2027, would be interested in making the move to the Hawthorns, where he would have the chance to feature against his uncle in England’s second division. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

As per L’Équipe, a move for RC Lens’ Salis Abdul Samed is in the pipeline. The Ghanaian international had a strong 2022/23 campaign but suffered a drop-off last season. He has now been placed into the “loft” at Lens, with Les Sang et Or pushing him towards an exit. Les Verts are considering a loan move for the midfielder, whilst a move for his team-mate, Stijn Spierings, also being pushed towards the exit, is also being considered.

As well as a midfielder, Saint-Étienne are also looking to recruit a striker, and whilst a move for Ligue 1 stalwart Andy Delort had been considered, it is thought that the newly-promoted side are looking at a more youthful profile. Mohamed Bamba, who last season was relegated with FC Lorient, is a priority target, however, they are behind other clubs in the race to sign the forward, L’Équipe understands. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

For Faivre, it will be a return to a club he had previously represented from 2020 until 2022 when he left to join Olympique Lyonnais. Faivre only spent six months at Lyon before being loaned out to FC Lorient. A move from Lyon to Bournemouth followed in 2023 which saw another loan back in Brittany with Lorient. 

An unhappy second spell at Lorient for Romain Faivre

However, Faivre struggled in the Lorient team where he was thought to have clashed with Régis Le Bris. The midfielder was one of the players that the manager called out during a team meeting ahead of the winter transfer window, and he was recalled to Bournemouth in late January. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland