Rennes stand firm as Fulham pursue Morocco defender Abdelhamid Ait-Boudlal

Fulham have returned with an improved offer of €35m, including bonuses, for Stade Rennais central defender Abdelhamid Ait-Boudlal after their opening €28m bid was rejected.

However, the Premier League club’s latest proposal has again been turned down by Rennes, who are determined not to part with their highly rated young Moroccan defender without a significantly higher fee.

The Rouge et Noir have responded firmly to Fulham’s interest and now value Ait-Boudlal at close to €50m. That valuation places a clear limit on the player’s availability and signals that Rennes have no intention of accepting the sums currently being discussed by the Cottagers.

Fulham’s revised offer represented an increase of €7m on their initial proposal, but it was still not enough to persuade the French club to negotiate a sale. Rennes’ position remains that Ait-Boudlal will only leave if an offer reaches an exceptional level, well above the amount included in Fulham’s latest approach.

The Brittany club are not actively seeking to sell the defender. Instead, Rennes want to extend his contract and establish him as a long-term part of their project.

That stance means the next move rests with both Fulham and Ait-Boudlal’s representatives. Fulham will have to substantially improve their proposal if they are to have any chance of changing Rennes’ position, while the Moroccan player’s camp must consider the prospect of a move against the French club’s desire to retain him.

For now, Stade Rennais remain inflexible. Their decision to set Ait-Boudlal’s valuation at close to €50m underlines the importance they attach to the defender and reflects their determination to resist Fulham’s pursuit unless the Premier League side produces an offer that matches their demands.

Fulham’s initial €28m bid and subsequent €35m package have therefore both failed to unlock negotiations. Rennes’ preference is clearly to keep Ait-Boudlal and secure a contract extension, rather than agree to a transfer on terms they consider insufficient.

The situation leaves the young centre-back at the centre of a growing contest between Fulham’s interest and Rennes’ long-term plans. Unless the Cottagers raise their offer considerably, the French club’s position is that Ait-Boudlal will remain at Stade Rennais.