Alidu Seidu set for Nice move after medical as club seek defensive cover

Ghana defender Alidu Seidu is close to completing a move from Stade Rennais to Nice, with the transfer agreed and only a medical examination needed before it can be formally confirmed, according to Le Parisien.

Seidu has been given permission by Stade Rennais to travel to Nice on Thursday for the medical and to finalise the deal. Transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri has also reported that an agreement is already in place, although Seidu must still pass the examination before the move can be officially announced.

The 26-year-old has made 106 Ligue 1 appearances and can play at right-back or as a central defender in a back three, the position in which Mohamed Abdelmonem has featured for Nice. Seidu has also won 25 caps for Ghana.

He has not played in Ligue 1 so far this season.

Although the French transfer window closed on 1 September, clubs are permitted to sign a “joker” if specific conditions are met. One of those conditions is a serious injury to a player already in the squad.

Nice defender Antoine Mendy suffered a cruciate ligament injury during the club’s draw against Le Mans earlier this month, giving the club the option of making an additional signing under the regulations.

Nice confirmed the extent of the injury on its website, saying: “Mendy underwent medical examinations which unfortunately confirmed that he had suffered a rupture of the cruciate ligament in his left knee.”

Mendy came on with about 15 minutes of the match remaining but was forced to leave the field after experiencing severe pain in one of his knees. The injury is expected to keep the Senegal international out for several months.

L’Equipe reported that INEOS, the owner of Nice, had given the French club approval to complete the signing of Seidu.

The proposed move would see Seidu join a Nice defence that already includes Mohamed Abdelmonem, who has established himself as a regular starter for the club this season after missing the whole of the previous campaign with a cruciate ligament injury.