Premier League teams have begun to step up their interest in French football’s biggest stars in recent years, but Ligue 1 still remains something of an untapped goldmine…
According to reports in the French press, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, Southampton and Everton are all considering a move for Lyon’s 21-year-old defender Samuel Umtiti – and frankly, it’s about time!
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The standard of French football has been steadily improving in recent years, thanks in no small part to the mega-budgets of Paris Saint Germain and AS Monaco, but there remains a lengthy list of top flight quality players plying their trade among the country’s so-called lesser teams.
As the summer transfer window draws ever closer, we could down ten Ligue 1 players who Premier League teams MUST take a look at:
10) Samuel Umtiti (Lyon)
Promising young defender who can play both as a centre-back or as a left-back. He has already made 82 league appearances despite his tender age, and is a French youth team international.
9) Wissam Ben Yedder (Toulouse)
The 24-year-old striker has scored 38 goals in 104 league games for his club, including eight so far this season. Another French youth team international, Yedder is originally or Tunisian descent.
8) Florian Thauvin (Marseille)
An exceptionally talented young winger, the 22-year-old has been one of his side’s deadliest attacking weapons so far this season. He has been described as the ‘next Franck Ribery’ by one French football manager.
7) Papy Mison Djilobodji (FC Nantes)
The wonderfully named Senegalese international has proved himself a commanding presence at the heart of his side’s back four over the years. The 6ft4 giant has made 141 appearances for Nantes since joining in 2010.
6) Simon Kjaer (Lille)
The Danish international might still only be 25, but he has already attracted plenty of attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. His time with Lille was preceded by spells with Palermo, Wolfsburg and Roma.
5) Romain Hamouma (Saint-Etienne)
The 27-year-old winger has worked his way up from the lower echelons of French football, starting with Racing Besancon and moving to Stade Lavallois, Caen and eventually Saint-Etienne.
4) Nicolas Nkoulou (Marseille)
Despite being only 24-years-old, Nkoulou already has 51 caps for Cameroon and almost 200 games of French league football under his belt. The powerful centre-back would make an excellent signing for a number of English sides needing defensive reinforcements.
3) Maxime Gonalons (Lyon)
The defensive midfielder, who has been linked with Arsenal in the past, has been the heartbeat of Lyon’s team so far this season. The 25-year-old French international has been an established first-team player since 2009.
2) Dimitri Payet (Marseille)
Another full French international, the 27-year-old winger has spent his entire career in France thus far, but his form so far this season could belatedly inspire a Premier League move. The speedy wide-man has plenty of ability.
1) Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)
The biggest name in French football right now. The Liverpool target has scored 24 goals in 26 games so far this season, inspiring interest from across Europe. The 23-year-old also has five caps for the French national team, and is overdue his first goal.