French Football Transfer Window: Will Ligue 1’s Spending Surge Continue or Conclude in Chaos?

2024-08-22 11:01:00

Will Ligue 1 stay calm until the end?

447 million euros in the summer of 2020, 408 in 2021, 583 in 2022, 914 last summer: since the summer of Covid, Ligue 1 spending on the transfer market has increased almost every year. But so far, the elite clubs, punished by the disastrous management of the television rights file, have released 628.71 million euros “only”.

Only six clubs have made transfers worth more than 10 million euros – Lyon, Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg, Monaco and Rennes – and… four teams have not spent a single euro. Montpellier, Angers, Le Havre and Reims are symbols of a tense, even terrifying, summer for French football. A trend that will not change in eight days. Even if among those who are above the fray, or think they are, movements are still expected.

Will Lyon’s transfer window end in disaster?

From the outside, the signs are starting to be really worrying in the Rhône. Since the start of the transfer window, Olympique Lyonnais appear to have disengaged from the television rights crisis affecting French football, with more than 134 million euros spent on the exercise of purchase options and the most expensive recruit in their history by… Moussa Niakhate (32M ).

Problem: at the moment, the management of Lyon has only sold 24.25 million euros, where they promised 100 to the DNCG. His big salaries are not leaving him wanting, nor his biggest market values ​​(Cherki, Caqueret). According to L’Equipe, OL made it clear that everyone could leave from now on as long as the right price was aligned. Barring a huge amount of work from sports management in the last few days, the outlook is not encouraging: to be caught again by the DNCG, or to lose executives who were supposed to stay.

Rayan Cherki during PSG – OL (2-1) in the final of the Coupe de France

Credit: Imago

Will Paris replace Ramos?

It is an event that we thought would end the transfer window of Paris Saint-Germain: the injury to Gonçalo Ramos from the first day, for about three months. Paris had to recruit up front when they were left with only Randal Kolo Muani as a true attacker, we said. But according to L’Equipe, PSG do not necessarily look towards the number 9 to replace the Portuguese, or at least without this profile.

A more athletic attacker could arrive. If Luis Enrique doesn’t do with what he has in stock, for example with Marco Asensio who can play as a “false 9”. This type of internal solution could be supplemented with another aggressive recruitment in a completely different program. For example, the Rayan Cherki file would not be completely closed.

Who will replace Wahi in Marseille?

Marseille have already been very active in this transfer window, and their 10th recruit, winger Jonathan Rowe, appears to be very close to arriving. The arrival of Roberto De Zerbi was, as expected, accompanied by a major squad overhaul, including the recruitment of a new number 9, Elye Wahi, scorer from the penalty spot on the first day. But if the former Lensois stood out immediately for this return, his substitute Faris Moumbagna was seriously injured (rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee).

So OM is looking for number 9 bis. Martin Satriano’s name came out first, but the Inter player will eventually sign with Lens. According to some media, Neal Maupay is now targeted, but the formula of the loan without the obligation to buy would not be suitable for his Everton club. The Marseille club is in no hurry, having closed almost all recruits. He has eight days to find the best alternative to Wahi.

Who will benefit from the free agent market?

The financial environment surrounding French football only emphasizes the constant search for a good shot at a lower cost. Therefore, some teams should scrutinize the free agent market in the last few days. So AS Saint-Etienne would look to Andy Delort. Stade Rennais mentioned André Gomes, who played for Lille.

At a higher level, some clubs are still trying to strengthen themselves offensively and elements like Anthony Martial, Wissam Ben Yedder or even Memphis Depay are still looking for a club, even if they had to accept big salaries in these cases – there . In short, the market is full of free players who are still very competitive, and Ligue 1 would be wrong to deprive themselves of them.