Lens unveils record signing Wahi as Minamino inspires
PARIS: Lens presented club record signing Elye Wahi ahead of their 1-1 draw with Rennes in Ligue 1 on 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 runners-up as Lens agreed to a fee worth up to €35 million ($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 equalized early in the second half courtesy of Benjamin Bourigeaud’s penalty after a foul by Salis Abdul Samed.
Andy 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.”
