Lens unveil record buy Wahi as Minamino inspires Monaco
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Lens presented club record signing Elye Wahi ahead of their 1-1 draw with Rennes in Ligue 1on Sunday, while Takumi Minamino scored twice and grabbed an assist in Monaco's 3-0 win over Strasbourg.
Wahi has penned a five-year contract with last season's runner-ups as Lens agreed a fee worth up to 35 million euros ($38 million) to bring the young French striker to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis from Montpellier.
The 20-year-old scored 19 times in the top flight last term and arrives in northern France as a replacement for Belgium international Lois Openda, who moved to RB Leipzig last month.
«The signing is a strong marker of the club's ambition,» said Lens sporting director Arnaud Pouille.
«He is one of French football's most promising players.»
Wahi watched his new side take a third-minute lead against Rennes through Deiver Machado, but the away side equalised early in the second half courtesy of Benjamin Bourigeaud's penalty after a foul by Salis Abdul Samed.
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FootballAndy Diouf hit the bar for the hosts with a deflected effort just past the hour, but Lens had to settle for a point — their first of the season after losing 3-2 at Brest last weekend.
«I don't know if it's a good point or not,» said Lens coach Franck Haise, who believes the addition of Wahi will give his side extra options.
«We're able to do a number of things in attack, but there comes a time you need speed, to attack the spaces in behind,» said Haise.
«He (Wahi) is capable of bringing us things that we couldn't do. He's what we were looking for.»
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