Racing Club de Lens attempted to bring Simon Banza back to the club as he was in their plans, but gave up due to the firmness of Braga.

Lens is making efforts to re-sign Simon Banza, a 29-year-old centre-forward from DR Congo. Although Banza is contracted with Braga until 2027, he is not in their plans anymore. Last year, he was loaned to Trabzonspor, where he netted 22 goals in 37 appearances. Banza is open to the idea of returning to Lens, but the two clubs have yet to reach an agreement on the transfer terms. With the transfer window closing soon, the negotiations are becoming more urgent. Banza rejected a 9 million euro offer from Al Jazira, as he is keen on moving back to Lens. Concurrently, Lens is exploring other options, such as Odsonne Édouard from Crystal Palace and Neal Maupay from OM, as they aim to bolster their attack for the 2025-2026 season. Transfermarkt estimates the player's current market value at €14 million.