Another year, another season gone by in French Ligue 1 with a host of exciting new prospects emerging and star players failing to make the grade, making for a potentially intriguing summer of transfer activity.
Although dominant on the domestic front, league winners PSG again failed to advance to the latter stages of the Champions League and will comfortable splash the cash in order to address their European woes. Meanwhile, Olympique Lyonnais saw a number of home grown players grab the headlines as they clinched second place and will surely field bids for their crop of young stars. And while AS Monaco weren’t too far back in third they will likely remain a selling club with their days of lavish spending seemingly behind them.
Here, Sport360.com looks at the Ligue 1 players attracting interest from suitors both home and abroad.
AYMEN ABDENNOUR (MONACO)
AGE: 25
POSITION: Centre-back
The AS Monaco centre-back was instrumental in his side’s achievements domestically and in Europe last season and his leadership at the heart of Monaco’s defence was pivotal in the French Riviera side ending the season with the best defence (26 goals conceded) in the league.
The Tunisian moved to Toulouse FC on the back of an impressive U21 showing against France in 2009, where he scored his side’s only goal and was named man of the match.
Abdenmour’s defensive attributes, coupled with a down-to-earth approach to football (he was regularly spotted having lunch with youth academy graduates and using public transport to move around town), endeared him to Toulouse fans and a move to Monaco followed in January 2014.
Abdennour’s stock rose after a composed display in his side’s stunning 3-1 win at Arsenal in the Champions League last-16 first-leg in February and has been watched by Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Leonardo Jardim has expressed his desire to keep the 33-times capped Tunisia international next season but is well aware that his prized defender may seek a new challenge, with a number of clubs waiting in the wings to make a bid.
ESTIMATED COST: Dhs49.6m
YOHAN CABAYE (PSG)
AGE: 29
POSITION: Central midfielder
The France international hasn’t done too much wrong for PSG since moving from Newcastle United in 2014, but Cabaye has failed to hold down a regular place in Laurent Blanc’s first XI.
Less crafty than Thiago Motta, less athletic than Blaise Matuidi and less composed than Marco Verratti, Cabaye has already said he is looking at a return to the Premier League this summer with West Ham and Crystal Palace reportedly interested.
Despite his uneventful time in the French capital, Cabaye’s talent is undoubted. A threat from set-pieces and the possessor of a superb range of passing, Cabaye remains an attractive proposition for any team looking for more creativity in midfield.
If a move back to the UK does happen, a number of bigger clubs may well show interest. Arsenal have been linked with the midfielder previously, while Manchester United are also in the market for players in the mould of Cabaye.
ESTIMATED COST: Dhs66.1 million
YANNICK FERREIRA-CARRASCO (MONACO)
AGE: 21
POSITION: Winger
The Belgian winger, of Portuguese and Spanish descent, was groomed in the AS Monaco youth academy after leaving Genk at just 17. Having excelled this season, Ferreira-Carrasco is another player who may leave Leonardo Jardim’s ranks in this transfer window as the club prepare to pay the price for another strong campaign.
After his most accomplished season to date (36 appearances in Ligue 1), the 21-year-old has attracted the interest of several European sides in recent months.
A winger of great athleticism, he made his international debut with Belgium last March and will surely feature in next year’s European Championships with Les Diables Rouges.
Whether he stays for another year in Monaco or takes the high-risk, high-reward route to a more established European league may well be out of his hands, especially if a big money bid comes in from a bigger club.
ESTIMATED COST: Dhs80m
ANDRE-PIERRE GIGNAC (MARSEILLE)
AGE: 29
POSITION: Striker
One of Marcelo Bielsa’s most impressive feats with Marseille in 2014-15 was to get Pierre-André Gignac back to his best. In fact, Gignac produced the second-most prolific season of his career with 21 goals in 36 games. His 2008-09 year with Toulouse betters that return, when Gignac nestled 24 goals and fired himself into the national team.
The France international is out of contract this summer and although he will turn 30 in December, there are sure to be a number of interested parties.
Hard-working in the final third and able to score with both feet, the striker captured his first goal in over five years with the French national team last October.
Having never played outside France, Gignac could very well be on his way to a first challenge abroad.
ESTIMATED COST: Free agent
MOUEZ HASSEN (NICE)
AGE: 20
POSITION: Goalkeeper
Born and bred at OGC Nice, the 20-year-old goalkeeper turned professional in 2012 after his side won the Coupe Gambardella youth tournament.
It was last season that saw Hassen gain a regular gig between the posts following injuries to Joris Delle and later Simon Pouplin. Although Nice’s season was filled with ups and downs as the side finished 11th in Ligue 1, Hassen’s displays caught the eye of a number of European scouts.
Having risen through the ranks of every France youth team, Hassen will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Nice graduate Hugo and feature for the senior team in the near future.
Out of contract on June 30, it is not yet known whether he will continue at his home-town club or be tempted by a new challenge.
ESTIMATED COST: Free agent
GIANNELLI IMBULA (MARSEILLE)
AGE: 22
POSITION: Central midfielder
Marcelo Bielsa’s most reliable asset, the box-to-box midfielder started nearly every game for Marseille this season and showed the leadership that saw him named Ligue 2 Player of the Year in 2013.
The one game Imbula did not start for Marseille in 2014-15 was the home clash against PSG due to suspension, and his absence was felt in the defeat that punctured their ambitions of Champions League qualification.
Without the prospect of Champions League football next year, the midfielder is reportedly looking at a new challenge overseas with Inter and Tottenham Hotspur among a host of clubs linked to his signature.
ESTIMATED COST: Dhs49.6m
LAYVIN KURZAWA (MONACO)
AGE: 22
POSITION: Full-back
Kurzawa is another graduate from the much vaunted Monaco youth system and a superb campaign was rewarded by a first appearance for the national team last November.
The France left-back has consistently displayed the same athleticism and physicality which saw him announce himself to the world as part of Monaco’s rapid rise over the last three years.
Kurzawa clearly has the attributes to become a mainstay with France and could go on to become one of the best left-backs in Europe.
Concerns over his personality may put off some prospective buyers, but his talent is there for all to see.
Estimated cost: Dhs49.6m
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE (LYON)
AGE: 24
POSITION: Striker
Easily Ligue 1’s best player this season, the Lyon striker scored 27 times in the league, each goal contributing to raising his profile across Europe. Although a lot less spectacular than PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Lyon forward has proved just as potent.
A move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs seems a natural progression in Lacazette’s career, but Lyon’s owner has repeatedly stated his striker is not for sale at any price.
Reported interest from Liverpool has been shrugged off and it may be that Lacazette wants to stay at his boyhood club and cement his spot in the national team ahead of Euro 2016 before moving on.
Another good season and a successful Euro campaign would also see his stock, and value, rise even further.
ESTIMATED COST: Dhs160m
EZEQUIEL LAVEZZI (PSG)
AGE: 30
POSITION: Forward
The Argentina forward appears to be on his way out of Parc des Princes this season having failed to live up to expectations in France with eight goals and two assists in 31 league games this year, not enough for a player that cost the club a reported Dhs124m.
Occasional flashes of brilliance haven’t been enough to temper Lavezzi’s lack of tactical discipline. He has always preferred a more liberal number ten role where he can roam at will, but Blanc has regularly preferred other options in that position.
Beyond tactical indiscipline it is clear the 30-year-old struggled with motivational issues during his time in Paris, and even looked uninterested against France’s smaller sides.
With PSG looking at a number of potential replacements, such as Kevin de Bruyne and Angel di Maria, it does look like Lavezzi’s time in the capital may be up. With one year left on his current contract, it may be a wise time to part ways for both club and player.
ESTIMATED COST: Dhs33m
DIMITRI PAYET
AGE: 28
POSITION: Forward
The 28-year-old Marseille attacking midfielder made an excellent impression this season, leading the league in assists (16) and featuring seven times for France.
In June, he scored his first goal for Didier Deschamps’ side against Belgium to cap off a superb 2014-15 season for the former Lille man.
Payet has added work ethic to his excellent tactical awareness and technical abilities, and his consistency saw him deliver week-in, week-out under Marcelo Bielsa.
His versatility across the final third of the pitch is an attractive quality and a number of clubs are preparing bids for Payet in the coming months.
So far, Everton and West Ham United have been the most frequently discussed clubs rumoured to be looking at Payet this summer.
ESTIMATED COST: Dhs49.6m
