Sow closing in on Nantes; Zouaoui fades away

Central defender Saïdou Sow, 24, and under contract with Strasbourg until 2028, is on the verge of joining Nantes (L2) on a one-year loan with a purchase option, according to L'Équipe. The Guinean player had already spent time at the second-division club in the latter half of last season, though his spell was cut short by a cruciate ligament injury in May.

Recovered from his injury, Sow was loaned to Clermont over the winter, where he made 12 appearances. His arrival would bolster a Nantes side undergoing a defensive overhaul.

Meanwhile, the prospect of bringing in Yanis Zouaoui, left-back from Le Havre, appears to have collapsed. Despite early progress, the deal has seemingly fallen through following Montpellier's interest in the Franco-Algerian player, prompting Nantes to abandon their pursuit.