Transfer saga
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“My objective is clear and stated: I would like to come back and play in France or for a European club”, Denis Bouanga said this week, underlining his intention of making a move more clearly than ever before. At the end of last year, this sounded somewhat more reserved.
“I don’t close any doors,” Denis Bouanga said in an interview with Transfermarkt.fr in the fall. “I will go where God decides. I know there will be opportunities. I weigh the advantages and disadvantages. If I can go back to Europe, I will go back, if I can stay, I will stay. I am very comfortable here. Afterwards, if there is an irrefutable offer, I will go. If there is a club that really wants me, we will talk. Whatever happens, I’m open to anything.”
Bouanga was right. Los Angeles FC have received a number of offers for the 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner, according to several sources. Rumors that OGC Nice had a strong interest in the 29-year-old emerged back in December. According to Tiago Brandão, RC Lens and Stade Rennais have already made concrete offers to Bouanga and LAFC.
Top 10: 2023 MLS goalscorers
The transfer fee on offer is rumored to be around $10m. However, Los Angeles FC are only willing to enter into talks with a bid of at least $15m. The 2022 MLS Cup winners also have no real ambitions to give up their most valuable player. Speaking to Transfermarkt in the fall, head coach Steve Cherundolo made it clear that he expects Denis Bouanga to return for the 2024 season.
Denis Bouanga: From relegation to most wanted player
Before his move to Los Angeles FC, Bouanga spent his entire career in his native France. The Gabon international began his professional career at FC Lorient. After two loan spells, he moved to Nîmes Olympique for €3m in 2018. A year later, he moved to AS Saint-Étienne (transfer fee €4.5m).
Bouanga was always a reliable goalscorer for the Verts. However, despite his nine goals and six assists, he was unable to prevent relegation in the 2021/22 season. It was the team’s first relegation in 20 years.
In August 2022, he finally left Saint-Étienne and joined LAFC. He immediately became a regular and scored two important goals against archrivals Los Angeles Galaxy in the quarter-finals of the MLS Cup Playoffs. At the end of his first season, Bouanga won the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup with LAFC. In his second year with Black and Gold, Bouanga made his definitive breakthrough. In 2023, he scored 38 goals and 15 assists in 48 games.
So it is no wonder that he is now on the radar of a number of European clubs. Should Bouanga leave the club, LAFC would lose another key player, after already losing Diego Palacios, Kellyn Acosta and Maxime Crépeau. In addition, it remains unclear whether captain Carlos Vela will return for the 2024 season.
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