​Stade Lavallois MFC hosted Stade de Reims in Ligue 2 BKT for the 2025/2026 season, with Mory Gbane featuring in the 24th minute during the Laval–Reims clash at Stade Francis Le Basser on April 10, 2026, in Laval, France. Photo credits: FEP/IMAGO. The club had just completed the acquisition of Camilo Duran, who linked up with Martin O’Neill and the squad in Portugal ahead of his £5.5 million transfer being finalized. It appears O’Neill is far from finished, as his tone shifted noticeably after the 1-1 draw with Shelbourne in Dublin this week, insisting that the team clearly needs additional players and that action is overdue. This was a stark departure from the early days of his appointment, when he suggested only a couple of arrivals would bolster the existing group.
Now that the clarification has been issued, the manager has opened up about the need to strengthen across multiple positions, including goalkeeper. He has been linked with potential options such as UD Las Palmas’ Dinko Horkas and Hertha Berlin’s Tjark Ernst, both of whom would command fees in the €5–7 million range if Laval decide to pursue them. Tjark Ernst, the goalkeeper for Hertha BSC, was photographed during a Bundesliga match against Eintracht Braunschweig at the Olympiastadion on October 18, 2024, in Berlin. The image was captured by Maryam Majd/Getty Images.
Meanwhile, a report from France today added that Celtic are showing interest in Reims midfielder Mory Gbane. Foot Mercato reported that Celtic, West Ham United, and Turkish club Trabzonspor are closely monitoring the Ivorian defensive midfielder. The central midfield position clearly needs refreshing as Reo Hatate appears poised to leave in the near future, while Arne Engels and Benjamin Nygren have been strongly linked with moves to England. Paulo Bernardo has rarely been selected under Martin O’Neill, suggesting he may have little future at the club, and Callum McGregor could benefit from more legs around him.
From Foot Mercato and Gbane’s profile, it seems Martin O’Neill may view Gbane as the solution to strengthen the central midfield, bringing the sort of power and athleticism that has been conspicuously missing for a considerable period. This potential signing would address a critical area of the team as Laval continues to rebuild and adapt under O’Neill’s management. The ongoing transfer chatter indicates Laval’s emphasis on bolstering the squad’s depth and dynamism to compete more robustly in Ligue 2 BKT, with Gbane’s reported involvement under scrutiny as the club weighs its options amid an active market.