From Nebil Fekir to Bernardo Silva: Five Ligue 1 youngsters to watch

Sport360 staff 14:25 04/08/2015
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  • Hottest prospects in Ligue 1 this season.

    France is one of the leading exporters of young talent, so ahead of the start of the new Ligue 1 season we take a look at some of those who will be on the shopping lists of leading clubs around Europe:

    Nabil Fekir (Lyon)

    Fekir won the young player of the year award for last season after a remarkable breakthrough campaign that saw him score or create 22 goals in total.

    Capable of playing as a second striker or at the tip of a midfield diamond, Fekir made his France debut against Brazil in March. And Lyon's biggest coup of the summer has been tying the 22-year-old to a new contract which runs until 2020.

    However, they will do well to hold on to Fekir for too much longer if he continues to shine.

    Bernardo Silva (Monaco)

    Along with Anthony Martial, Silva, 20, was the driving force in Monaco's strong finish to last season that saw them claim third place.

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    Monaco paid Benfica 15.75 million euros in January to make the diminutive Portuguese playmaker or winger's loan move permanent.

    And his value has risen substantially since then thanks to his six goals and two assists in the last seven games of last season and his displays in helping Portugal reach the final of the European under-21 Championship.

    Sofiane Boufal (Lille)

    Boufal, 21, has the talent to become the next Eden Hazard in Lille, where he impressed in the second half of last season after signing from second-tier Angers in January on a four-and-a-half-year contract.

    The gifted Paris-born starlet of Moroccan origin can mesmerise opponents with his skill and in Herve Renard he has a coach who knows how to get the best out of exciting young players.

    Raphael Guerreiro (Lorient)

    Lorient have made big profits selling the likes of Kevin Gameiro, Laurent Koscielny and Jordan Ayew in the recent past and Guerreiro may be the next one to move on.

    The pint-sized Portuguese international, 21, can play as a left-back or a left-winger, from where he excelled last season scoring seven league goals in a struggling side.

    He has already been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, but the capital club will surely face stiff competition for his signature when Guerreiro does decide to move on.

    Morgan Sanson (Montpellier)

    Sanson is currently recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in the spring but is hoping to return by late September, and the sooner the better for Montpellier.

    The graceful midfielder, who will turn 21 later this month, signed a contract extension through to 2018 earlier this year. However, that and the fact he is recovering from injury have not stopped Marseille from being linked with a move this summer.

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