PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero Demba Ba has been lined up for a sporting director’s job at a top-flight club in France.
Stade Rennais are considering replacing their current director, Frederic Massara, with ex-Newcastle and Chelsea striker Ba.
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Ba has kept busy since he hung up his boots in 2021.
In 2023, he became a minority owner and director of football at Ligue 2 side USL Dunkerque.
The club have been enjoying an impressive season, outperforming their sparse means.
The fourth placed side are challenging for promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history.
And the club have reached the Coupe de France semi-final, where they will face holders Paris Saint-Germain.
And now it seems Ba’s work has been noticed by Ligue 1 side Rennais.
It has been a disappointing stint in the north of France for former AC Milan director Massara, who only joined the club in early July.
Massara has borne the brunt of a failed summer transfer window, which saw the club spend more than £66million on unproven players.
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He signed a lot of young players, many of whom have since been moved on, such as Jota, Albert Gronbaek, and Glen Kamara.
Gronbaek was shipped out to Prem strugglers Southampton in January.
And former Arsenal youth star Kamara was loaned to Saudi side Al Shabab after six months at the club.
While Jota is currently starring for Celtic.
Rennais sit 12th in Ligue 1, with nine wins from 26 games.
Despite interest in Ba, RC Strasbourg Alsace’s Loic Desire remains the firm favourite to take over from Massara, according to L’Equipe.
Ba spent one season with Chelsea in 2013-2014 and is remembered for his cool finish after Steven Gerrard’s infamous ‘slip’ at Anfield.
The French-Senegalese star capitalised on Gerrard’s mistake to dent Liverpool’s title hopes in dramatic fashion.
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Ba’s first stint in the Prem was with West Ham, joining in January 2011 with the Hammers struggling against relegation.
He scored seven goals in 12 league appearances for the club, including braces away at West Brom and Wigan, but he could not prevent them from the drop.
Due to a clause in his contract, he was allowed to leave on a free at the end of the season.
Newcastle ended up signing him on a free transfer in 2011, and he quickly made a name for himself as a deadly finisher.
