Atlético eye Lepaul as price soars towards sixty million euros

At the Stade Rennais ground, Estéban Lepaul sprinted past the Sturm Graz defence, completing eighty‑six minutes of action as scouts from PSG, Inter, Benfica and Atlético de Madrid watched from the stands. The 26‑year‑old French striker, last season’s Ligue 1 top scorer, has re‑emerged on Atlético’s winter transfer radar.

Rising price tag

Stade Rennais have placed Lepaul’s transfer fee between fifty and sixty million euros, a stark increase from the thirteen‑point‑five million they paid Angers for him in 2025. The club also demands a percentage of any future sale, meaning any January move must satisfy those conditions.

Interest from Europe’s elite

PSG, Inter and Benfica sent scouts alongside Atlético to the Europa League tie, confirming a broad European chase. Benfica have already made a preliminary enquiry into Lepaul’s contract and the figures Stade Rennais expect.

Despite the buzz, no formal Atlético offer has materialised yet. The Spanish side’s interest is not new; a meeting with Lepaul’s agents took place in May, and the clubs crossed paths again in late August while discussions over Julián Álvarez’s future continued.

Lepaul finished the 2025/26 season with twenty‑one goals in thirty‑two Ligue 1 matches for Angers and Stade Rennais, and has already netted three times in the opening five games of the current campaign. His form earned a call‑up from France, with Zinedine Zidane naming him on 18 September alongside Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise for the Nations League.

Stade Rennais secured Lepaul’s long‑term future by extending his contract to June 2030, after sporting director Loïc Désiré confirmed talks began in June. The new deal incorporates the future‑sale percentage, tying any January departure to the club’s terms.

Atlético’s transfer strategy this window also involved the loan of Jonathan David from Juventus, with a purchase option of twenty‑five million euros at season’s end, illustrating the club’s broader squad planning.

If Lepaul maintains his scoring rhythm and cements his place in the French squad, his starting price of fifty million euros plus a sell‑on clause will likely remain the benchmark. A potential departure of Alexander Sorloth could open a rotational spot alongside Julián Álvarez and David, further heightening Lepaul’s appeal.