RC Lens had seemingly prioritized extending Juma Bah`s (19) loan agreement with Manchester City this summer, seeking to bolster their defensive options after the departures of Kevin Danso and Abdukodir Khusanov during the winter transfer window.
Bah spent the latter part of the 2024/25 season on loan at Les Sang et Or, where his performances quickly made an impact. His inclusion in the starting lineup coincided with the team ending a four-game losing streak and ultimately securing an 8th-place finish in the league, just five points shy of qualification for European competitions.
Lens were hopeful of persuading Manchester City that allowing Bah to remain at the club would be beneficial for his ongoing development. However, they were reportedly unable to meet the Premier League side`s financial stipulations. According to a report by La Voix du Nord, Manchester City requested a loan fee of €2 million, a figure Lens considered prohibitive, particularly given that they would be investing resources into developing a player who would ultimately return to his parent club at the end of the loan term.
