Leeds United continue to be linked with Hoffenheim forward Georginio Rutter as they look to make their second signing of the January transfer window.
A new centre-forward is a priority for Jesse Marsch this month, and Rutter could be the third German Bundesliga player to land at Elland Road since the American took charge, as Leeds 'close in' on his signature.
Rutter might have spent the last two years at Hoffenheim, but he in fact came through the youth ranks at Stade Rennes in his native France. The 20-year-old joined Rennes' academy from Vannes at the age of 16, and broke into the first team during the 2020-21 season.
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He made five appearances in total for Rennes and scored his first and only goal for the club in a 3-1 home defeat against Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League. The forward then followed in the footsteps of many of Rennes' most talented youngsters by leaving France to pursue a career elsewhere in Europe.
Rennes have an excellent track record for being a top producer of young talent, as illustrated by the likes of Sylvain Wiltord, Yoann Gourcuff, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Tiemoue Bakayoko.
And that reputation has been upheld with the breakthroughs of Ousmane Dembele, Eduardo Camavinga and Mathys Tel in more recent years.
Dembele scored 12 goals in 26 games during his solitary season at Rennes, and went on to join Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund. 10 goals and 22 assists in one season for the Black and Yellows then resulted in an eye-watering £135.5 million switch to FC Barcelona.
The 25-year-old has lifted two La Liga titles at the Camp Nou and has registered 39 goals and 41 assists in all competitions for the club. Dembele has also been a hit on the international stage - winning the 2018 World Cup, and reaching last year's final in Qatar.
Camavinga joined Rennes' academy at the age of 11 and became the club's then youngest-ever player at the age of 16 years and six months old in April 2019. He accumulated 88 appearances for Les Rennais, and signed for European juggernauts Real Madrid in the winter of 2021.
His first season ended with three major trophies, including the La Liga title and UEFA Champions League. Camavinga also starred in France's 2022 World Cup campaign, and came on as a sub in their defeat against Argentina in the final.
Camavinga's record as Rennes' youngest player was beaten by Tel, who made his professional debut at the age of 16 years and 110 days old in August 2021.
Tel played just 10 games for Rennes and joined reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich back in the summer. The 17-year-old has been an instant hit in Bavaria - scoring three goals in seven league appearances.
The teenager scored his first goal in a 5-0 win over Viktoria Koln in the DFB-Pokal in August to become the youngest goal scorer in Bayern's history.
While Rennes appear to have an endless conveyer belt of prodigious young talent, they've also helped nurture and develop a number of signings from abroad, including former Leeds winger Raphinha.
Raphinha arrived at Rennes in the summer of 2019 after previous spells at Vitoria Guimaraes and Sporting Lisbon respectively. The Brazilian established himself as one of the deadliest wingers in the French top-flight and notched eight goals and seven assists in 36 games for the club.
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