20152015

presents...

FOREWORD

gibneyYouth football is a wonderful thing. You have coaches trying to teach discipline while harnessing the different attributes of their squad. Players, no matter the age, want to win. You can’t tell them about development and progression, they just want to score goals and pick up points. It is organic, so unpredictable yet so rewarding.

Whenever I am asked why I watch Ligue 1, youth is always the first reason I give. No other league can boast a constant conveyor belt similar to that of France’s top league. It’s easy to get bogged down in the disappointment of young players moving on, but you will always find another prospect picking up where they left off.

If any club encompasses that more than the others, it’s Lille. Yohan Cabaye was breaking his way into Claude Puel’s team when I became a fan of Les Dogues. I remember seeing Eden Hazard’s debut against Nancy, and when he sparked a comeback 3-2 win against Auxerre in his first huge moment at the Stade Lille Metropole.

Watching Lille’s second team, Lucas Digne instantly stood out from the crowd, and it was a pleasure seeing him make an impact in the first team and star in this publication a few years later.

Initially Le50 was just a way of collecting together the names of some of Ligue 1’s exceptional talent and having it recorded somewhere that we rated these 50 players higher than others.

Back in 2012 we kicked off with 24 pages featuring Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma, Newcastle United’s Remy Cabella and Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho, but

for every Premier League star, there was an Abdoulaye Diallo and a Maxime Bourgeois. Interesting that there are a number of players from the first edition - Jean-Christophe Bahebeck and Lenny Nangis - who also appear this year. Some players can blossom early; some can make it later, with players even waiting till their mid-twenties before really showing what they are capable of.

Now in its fourth edition, the Le50 net has been cast high and wide. Players are voted in via a panel of some trusted and respected Ligue 1 writers and experts…the hope is we will get fewer and fewer wrong. Luckily, you won’t be able to tell for a few seasons yet.

The country is packed with talented young players and it would be easy to fill all 50 places with names from within Ligue 1, but just as Leicester City did successfully with Anthony Knockaert and Riyad Mahrez, you have to delve into Ligue 2 too. Perhaps one day both leagues will have their own edition.

Every year, not long after we release the 50 names I look at all those who will no longer be included in next year’s list. It becomes nostalgic, you are attached to names that you have watched learn and grow. Then around Christmas you are listing new names and you realise how exciting the next batch can be.

It is no coincidence that scouts from across Europe flock to watch both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. At every level there is someone who will get you off your feet. If you are looking in the right place at the right time, you may just discover what you are looking for.

Everyone is always looking for the next big thing. In France it is the next Hazard or the emerging new Raphael Varane; he may not yet be in the next 100 pages, but we can guarantee that if he is, we will do our best to pick him out and tell you all about him.

Andrew Gibney - Editor of French Football Weekly

andrew gibney

thelist

le 50Nabil Fekir

Lucas Digne

Clinton N Jie

Mario Lemina

Yannick Ferreira Carrasco

SoFIane Boufal

Michy Batshuayi

Fabinho

Samuel Umtiti

Sanjin Prcic

Raphael Guerreiro

Thomas Toure

Benjamin Bourigeaud

Abdoulaye Doucoure

Florian Thauvin

Uros Spajic

Tiago Ilori

Alphonse Areola

Jordan Veretout

Maxime Dupe

Alassane Plea

Diego Rolan

Alexy Bosetti

Geoffrey Kondogbia

Jean-Christophe Bahebeck

Morgan Sanson

Wylan Cyprien

Georges-Kevin N’Koudou

Mouez Hassen

Adrien Rabiot

Divock Origi

Jean-Philippe Gbamin

Corentin Jean

Anthony Martial

Rony Lopes

Arnaud Lusamba

Allan Saint-Maximin

Cedric Hountondji

Antoine Conte

Chris Philipps

Jordan Amavi

Lenny Nangis

Marquinhos

Paul Nardi

Valentin Lavigne

Lucas Ocampos

Benjamin Mendy

Corentin Tolisso

Bernardo Silva

Tiemoue Bakayoko

all players were born on or after 01.01.1993

doucoureabdoulayedoucoure

While Paul-Georges Ntep gathers much of the limelight as the rising star of Rennes, he has a partner in crime well worthy of mention in the form of Abdoulaye Doucoure. His powerful presence in the centre of the field gives the Breton side a formidable forward thrust. Having inherited some of the explosiveness and power that allowed cousin Ladji Doucoure to become a 110-metre hurdles world champion in 2005, the 22-year-old is also renowned for his tireless performances. These attributes have helped to define the embryonic career of the box-to-box midfielder. Born in Île-de-France, Doucoure has featured for Rennes at various levels since 2007, when he signed for them as a 14-year-old. Four years later, despite missing the bulk of one campaign due to a ruptured tendon in his knee, he would pen his first professional contract, and debuted for the first team in 2013. Doucoure made an immediate impression by turning in a sterling display in a 2-0 win over Brest. Not only did he score the opening goal, he was also named the game’s outstanding player. It was a vibrant curtain-raiser to his life as a professional and after a couple of strong displays subsequently he was in a prime position to establish himself in then coach Frederic Antonetti’s plans. That was until his knee gave out again three quarters of the way through a match against Ajaccio.

Sidelined until the very last game of 2013, Doucoure came back strongly and contributed six goals and two assists in Rennes’ relegation fight, earning an increasing amount of game time in the process. Such a response to a relapse of such a serious injury is testimony to his incredible strength of character.

“He has an excellent attitude and that’s something which, as a coach, you always appreciate,” Rennes current head coach Philippe Montanier confirmed. “He often does the right thing and will grow in terms of his efficiency. Regarding his volume of play, he can do no more because his contribution is already huge. In terms of kilometres he runs, he is approaching Champions League level.” However, there was one reservation: “There is still room for improvement in terms of his technique and finishing.”

Certainly, for a player who so frequently gets into useful scoring positions, his contribution has been a little disappointing to this point in his career, particularly when it is taken into account how well he has combined with Ntep. Going into the last quarter of the current campaign, Doucoure had provided five decisive passes – all of which resulted in the winger scoring.

“We have rediscovered our affinity,” Ntep admitted after scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory against Metz, which came after he had been sidelined for several weeks. “I know where to place myself when Abdoulaye has the ball and we are on a counter-attack.” Comparisons have been drawn with Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, and while the Ivory Coast star undoubtedly resides at a higher echelon than Doucoure currently, there are certainly strong echoes of the former Monaco man’s game in his. It is from the wily Etienne Didot that he has drawn inspiration closer to home. Now with Toulouse, the 31-year-old spent over a decade at Rennes when Doucoure was developing, and his positional sense in a deep midfield role is something that his successor has tried to learn from. “I try to make the team more solid by helping win the ball, and then when we have the ball I look to get forward and get into positions from where I can score goals and set them up,” Doucoure said last year. Such attributes have reportedly caught the eye of Chelsea, and even if overlooked by the Blues, a big future surely awaits the France under-21 international – assuming he can stay healthy.

Club: stade rennais

Position: midfield

DOB: 01.01.93

Nat: french

Capped: france U21

thauvinThe name Florian Thauvin is now well associated with French football, having been on the radar for the best part of two years, but the 22-year-old is somehow struggling to find the major breakthrough he needs to become a household name.

On the face of it, Thauvin’s career over the past two seasons has followed a smooth upward trajectory. Press coverage - and there has been a lot - of Thauvin over the last two seasons has documented the rise and rise of the player. From excelling in Corsica with Bastia, and then earning the acrimonious €15m move from Lille to Marseille, much has been made of the winger’s undoubted potential and talent. However in 2015, with time continuing to press, Thauvin remains at a crossroads as to where his career will take him.

Thauvin’s ability has never been in question. Complementing OM’s fast attacking style, and slotting in well with creative team-mates Dimitri Payet and Andre Ayew, he is capable of producing stunning moments, helping OM push up the table and gaining valuable points.

But a closer look at Thauvin’s statistics highlights an interesting correlation. When the team plays well, he tends to play well; when the team doesn’t, Thauvin is often well off the pace. All but one of his goals and assists (five and three at the time of writing), have come during the first half of the 2014/15 season, at a time when Marcelo Bielsa’s side were playing irresistible football. When the team is roaring, Thauvin is able to surf on the wave created by Payet, Gignac et al and make a contribution.

On the other hand, when Marseille slow down, and results fluctuate, so does Thauvin’s performance. Aside from a solitary (but beautifully struck) goal in the derby with Nice, Thauvin has failed to score or create a goal in 2015. In an unremarkable first three months of the year for OM, the 22-year-old has already been booed off the field by his home crowd.

Despite underachieving at times, there have been moments when Thauvin has shown just what he is capable of for Les Phocéens. Against Nantes in November, the winger had probably his best game of the season, scoring one and setting up the second in a 2-0 win. The first showed great imagination and invention as he converted a Payet cross with the outside of his

right foot. Then it was his left foot that swung in a free-kick, met by the head of Rod Fanni. Just two occasions, but a glimpse of how busy and influential he can be when in the right mood.

Thauvin has the ability to terrorise his opponents with superb pace, and scintillating dribbling ability. With a tendency to drift in from the wing, he is capable of so much more than he has shown this season. Whether he can deliver – and consistently – remains the major talking point of his fledgling OM career.

It is his decision-making that often lets him down. He has not yet mastered the ability to work through a crisis with calm composure. Instead, if the team is not winning, and a solution is yet to be found, Thauvin is often seen attempting to take on defenders on his own, or launch a strike from a long way out. It is these unfavourable traits which have led to scathing criticism from an impatient Marseillais crowd.

But if Thauvin has one supporter, crucially, it is coach Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine boss regularly reiterates his admiring view of his young protege as among the best young players in the world. It is a ringing endorsement in the eyes of many, and Thauvin has the tools to engineer himself as Marseille’s key player in a frantically exciting title race.

But what of the next 12-16 months? As France gears up to host the 2016 European Championships and OM look to win a return to the Champions League, it is up to Thauvin to cut out the key errors in his game that have plagued him to date, and begin to earn the plaudits and a place in the national team. Already being upstaged by the emerging Nabil Fekir of Lyon, Thauvin will be hoping to emulate his opponent sooner rather than later.

Club: olympique de marseille

Position: forward

DOB: 26.01.93

Nat: french

Capped: france U21

Florianthauvin

spajicUros Spajic is a man at a crossroads. Following his summer move to Toulouse in 2013 from Red Star Belgrade in his Serbian homeland, the 22-year-old enjoyed a solid first season in the Pink City, everything was in place to build and grow going into the 2014/15 campaign.

On an individual level, Spajic’s objectives would have been to further progress with Le Téfécé and break into the national team. Although the centre-back has exceeded those personal goals, it hasn’t helped Toulouse’s alarming slide into mediocrity.

Just over two months out with injury curtailed a positive start to the season for Spajic, which included a win over Lyon in August. It would take until November for the young defender to return to competitive action, but by then, the malaise had already set in around the Stadium Municipal.

Toulouse’s downward spiral had commenced in his absence, but Spajic’s initial return was met with a stirring response by the team and fans alike as Toulouse ran out winners against Metz and Nantes, whilst also securing a draw against Guingamp.

TFC’s beleaguered boss Alain Casanova linked the renewed solidity of his defence with the return of Spajic, such was his rising opinion of the Serb. If Spajic played well, so did the team. But that correlation would come into question over the turn of the year.

Whilst his form remained constant if unspectacular at times, Spajic was clearly Toulouse’s best player over the festive period, and well into January.

During the 3-0 defeat to Lyon, he was one of the best players on the pitch, but his defensive prowess and penchant for strong tackling were not enough, as his side eventually succumbed to the title challengers.

His stirring form enabled his side to recover briefly with two draws and victory over Rennes, as the onus fell increasingly on Spajic to tighten the defence and keep the team clear of a relegation dogfight. However, that could only go so far, as he

could only do so much, and the side capitulated disastrously to Marseille (1-6), followed by the shock 1-0 defeat to relegation candidates Lens which sealed Casanova’s exit fate.

As Toulouse continued to slide towards Ligue 2, it was hard to analyse the defensive performances without questioning Spajic’s ability. However, in a poor campaign, the Serbian has continued to try to do his best, and he should end the season with his reputation enhanced, despite his team’s travails. Spajic, who only turned 22 in February, had only seen Toulouse as a stepping stone to bigger and better things either in France or elsewhere, and he should earn a summer move regardless of whether or not the side from the Pink City remains in Ligue 1.

His greatest assets remain his unerring focus and concentration to get the job done, to read aerial balls well, and to anticipate when to intercept the opposition’s attacking ventures. With Toulouse’s goalkeeping woes well documented, as Ali Ahamada and Zacharie Boucher fail to set the world alight, Spajic’s impressive displays often go unnoticed as his hard work is undone by the mistakes of others.

However, Spajic’s next 12 months are crucial in order to solidify what he has built in a largely successful two years in French football. The temptation will be to up sticks and build a career in a new country, but moving up the Ligue 1 table could be an excellent next step. Unfortunately, teams like Montpellier, Rennes and Bordeaux wouldn’t be able to match Toulouse’s asking price.

With Casanova no longer at the helm, Spajic will hope that Dominique Arribage can inspire the side up the table. As it stands, nobody’s future is assured. Sense would dictate that Spajic has done enough, regardless of Toulouse’s plight, to continue his personal progress somewhere else next season.

Club: Toulouse fc

Position: defence

DOB: 13.02.93

Nat: serbian

Capped: serbia U21

urosspajic

iloriIn his first job as a club head coach, Willy Sagnol was quick to make numerous changes to the Girondins de Bordeaux side this summer. One of his moves was to bring Portuguese defender Tiago Ilori in on loan from Premier League side Liverpool, but it has been a move that has frustrated more than it has excited.

In his second loan spell from the English club, the former Sporting Lisbon youngster has shown enough in the 10 games that he has played in the league to illustrate why Sagnol wanted him at the club. However, the fact that he has yet to play four consecutive games in Ligue 1 gives an indication of the type of season Ilori has had to endure.

Ilori is something of a curiosity to supporters of parent club Liverpool. The 22-year-old is yet to feature in a senior match for Brendan Rodgers’ side and only appeared intermittently on loan at La Liga outfit Granada CF last year.

There is a reason for that. Ilori is frustratingly injury-prone and often sits out large chunks of the season, with his time at formative club Sporting Clube de Portugal no exception. The sad fact in Ilori’s young career is that the defender is actually on course to make a record number of league appearances this campaign. His previous best was 11 with Sporting, which was the only time he has hit double figures in three seasons of senior football.

His time in France didn’t get off to the best start and the Portuguese under-21 international

had to wait until the fifth game to make his Girondins debut, but the Hampstead-born defender followed that up with a back-post header to secure a 1-1 draw away at Saint-Etienne the next week.

Sadly, in October, Ilori lasted less than half an hour in Bordeaux’s 1-0 loss at Reims, coming off with a muscle injury that would keep him out for over two months.

Ligue 1 is one of the most physical leagues in Europe and Ilori has certainly experienced the rougher side of the campaign. It is the ideal training ground for players who want to play in England, and it will come as a concern that his body has struggled.

Ilori has played almost exclusively as the right-sided central defender, aside from one rogue appearance at left-back during a Coupe de la Ligue clash away at Lille. Frustratingly, when he has been able to play, Ilori has has fared well. Tall and relatively slim, unlike most other Ligue 1 defenders he doesn’t rely on brute strength. His style is more cerebral, calling upon his vision and ability to read the game in order to win the ball before he has to rely on a physical battle.

The defender has shown good pace along the ground, plus excellent technical ability when he has stepped out of defence. In Sagnol’s back four, Ilori has often been the one to play the ball out from the back and is definitely comfortable in possession.

While Ilori clearly has an abundance of talent, it is impossible for Bordeaux to rely on the loanee and Sagnol has admitted this is a problem over the course of the season. There is a chance that he may go back to Liverpool, leave his injury troubles behind him and eventually partner French international Mamadou Sakho in the Anfield defence, but at his current level, that is more of a hope than a possibility.

Had the youngster been fully fit all season, he would no doubt have played a key role, especially with the Africa Cup of Nations affecting Sagnol’s squad more than most in France’s top-flight. Ilori was limited to just two Coupe de France appearances in January, however, and it was not until February that he really stepped up his recovery.

The defender’s injuries are not likely to just go away but perhaps if managed intelligently by Liverpool, they might be able to get the best out of him on a more consistent basis. If someone can find a way to keep Ilori on the pitch, there is a good chance they can benefit from an excellent young defender.

Club: girondins de bordeaux

Position: defence

DOB: 26.02.93

Nat: portuguese

Capped: portugal U21

tiagoilori

areolaAlthough this young custodian has only ever featured twice for Paris Saint-Germain. Alphonse Areola has to be considered one of their best up and coming talents. After catching the eye in two loan spells, the Under-20 World Cup winner will still have hopes of becoming the number one goalkeeper in Paris, but he may have to continue to bide his time elsewhere.

First of those loan spells was at RC Lens, whom he helped to gain promotion last year with a superb season. This campaign he has made the step up to Ligue 1 and is a huge reason for Bastia’s impressive defensive displays.

Areola was arguably Lens’ best player last season, and up until Christmas of this campaign he was one of the few Bastia players who could hold their head up high, producing a number of key saves time and time again. He’s only just turned 22, which in goalkeeping terms is very young. He’s a number of years off his prime, but the signs are that he could become a very special goalkeeper in the future. After the occasional bench appearance for PSG, Areola finally earned himself a couple of starts at the back end of the 2012/13 season. However, it was clear he needed regular starting experience to develop, something he was never going to get in the capital. Salvatore Sirigu has been the undisputed first-choice since he joined from Palermo, so there was no point in the stopper with Filipino heritage continuing to spend time on the bench.

His first apprenticeship, ironically, would come working under former PSG boss Antoine Kombouare. The French coach has a good reputation for guiding young players, making it the ideal first step.

Although Lens were strong favourites to win the division, they were nowhere near as dominant as expected and during sub-standard performances by the defence, Areola was called upon to save them on numerous occasions. Given the chance to play regularly Areola showed all the attributes that confirmed why he is so highly regarded. Outstanding reflexes, great shot-stopping and imperious in one-on-one situations, combined with good technical skills on the ball and amazing agility. He looks to have the whole package.

All too often it looked like the opposition was certain to score, but Areola would defy the odds and pull out a wonderful stop. Some argued that the poorer finishing in Ligue 2 aided him when at Lens, but it’s been exactly the same in the top flight with Bastia. Areola is a very quick-thinking player; with his great reflexes he is such an instinctive keeper, and this is a key weapon. As with any young ‘keeper, there are some chinks in his armour. Dealing with crosses can sometimes be a problematic area, in addition to occasional poor communication with the defence. Areola instinctively likes to come out and collect most crosses, or punch them away, but at times he can be too aggressive when it might be a better option to stay on his line. He has been known to completely miss the ball on a few occasions, although the signs this season are that he has improved in this department. French football has always been blessed with great goalkeepers and Areola is definitely another one of those on the current production line. There are a number of other young keepers jostling for position, but he looks to be the best of the bunch right now. Whether or not his long-term future lies at PSG remains to be seen. But if they were to suddenly get rid of Salvatore Sirigu, then this man is maybe only a season or two away from having the necessary qualities required to start for them. He has the potential to become a brilliant custodian and his career is well worth watching.

Club: sc bastia

Position: goalkeeper

DOB: 27.02.93

Nat: french

Capped: france U21

alphonseareola

veretoutAfter last season’s star man Filip Đorđević joined Lazio on a free transfer last summer, FC Nantes were forced to look within for a replacement for the Serb’s nine goals because of a transfer embargo that will not allow them to make any move on the market until this June.

When looking for someone to step up to the plate in les Canaris’ squad, midfielder Jordan Veretout was probably not among the first names that crossed Michel der Zakarian’s mind. However, it is the former France under-21 international who leads the Nantes goalscoring charts, pitching in with six Ligue 1 goals to date from midfield.

Now 22, the all-action midfielder has already passed 100 league appearances for the eight-time French champions. His spirit, technique and unflappable character have made him the talisman of this Nantes side in just his second season of Ligue 1 football.

Veretout was tipped for a future call-up to the French senior side. That has not happened yet and the Under-20 World Cup winner has now stopped serving les Bleuets, but this campaign has still been one of progress for the Nantes number 25. He is edging towards the radar of Didier Deschamps – someone else who made his breakthrough at the Stade de la Beaujoire – but faces immense competition to get there and first needs to develop even further.

Veretout has handled this season’s increased responsibility with great maturity. By January, the Frenchman had bettered last season’s goal and assist tallies, and his disciplinary record is more impressive too. His status as the team’s designated penalty and set-piece taker reflects his seniority, despite his young age, not to mention his composure and ability to deliver an excellent cross or pass.

Veretout has all the attributes that one would expect in a modern midfielder. He has the engine to be a true box-to-box midfielder, shielding his defence in one minute and supporting his attack in the next. He has the vision and passing ability to create chances for his forwards. And he has the sense of timing and the calmness in front of goal to appear to finish off team moves himself.

However, this versatility appears to be taken for granted by Der Zakarian. This season alone, Veretout has already featured in a wide range of midfield positions, as well as an an auxiliary striker, which says as much about the player’s all-round ability as it does Nantes’ desperation for attacking options. Although accomplished in the box-to-box role, he is at his best in the attacking midfield role, normally as part of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The majority of Veretout’s goals and assists have come from this position, yet Der Zakarian continues to move him around. He is at his least effective when given defensive tasks to take care of, but still does not fail to get stuck in.

As was the case last term, the second half of Nantes’ season has tailed off somewhat after a promising opening, and Veretout’s form has also taken a hit in early 2015. However, this might be to the Pays de la Loire outfit’s advantage come this summer. Had his excellent form over the first half of the season continued, Der Zakarian was probably looking at losing one of his star men just as the transfer embargo was finally lifted.

However, if Veretout continues to struggle under the unrealistic weight of expectation placed on him to be Nantes’ jack of all trades and master of all, there will be less interest for Nantes to fend off. If that were to happen, then another season or two at the Stade de la Beaujoire would not be the worst thing for his development.

Club: fc nantes

Position: midfield

DOB: 01.03.93

Nat: french

Capped: france U21

jordanveretout

dupeSometimes unfortunate situations can reveal positive solutions to problems you didn’t know you had, and FC Nantes’ current transfer embargo has helped unearth a few young talented players who could go on to have a big future at the club. After suffering an injury, Les Canaris started the season without No.1 goalkeeper Rémy Riou. Unable to sign anyone new, even on loan, Michel Der Zakarian was left with no alternative but to go with 21-year-old shot-stopper Maxime Dupe.

After showing signs of promise at the end of last season, Dupe was thrown in at the deep end, but the Armenian coach couldn’t have asked for a better start and it has given the passionate Nantes fans a window into their encouraging future.

Born in the small Breton town of Malestroit, the young goalkeeper has played all of his career in western France. His early career began at Vannes OC, before spending five years in the Nantes youth academy. He did not turn pro until he was 20 years old, with progress in his career being slow and steady, rather than spectacular.

Before Dupe had the chance to play in front of his home crowd, he would travel to Turkey with the France under-20 side that lifted the World Cup in the summer of 2013. He didn’t play a single minute of the tournament, having to make do with watching Alphonse Areola make some heroic saves as France beat Uruguay in the final on penalties.

On his return to Ligue 1 action, with Riou out, Dupe would make his debut in Week 25 against Nice, and in the cavernous Allianz Riviera the young goalkeeper would hold strong and record his first clean sheet in his first-ever professional match in the league. A double from James Rodriguez against Monaco would end his run of two clean sheets, but he would notch a third against Guingamp before the season’s end.

It seems slightly harsh to be judging a goalkeeper after just ten league games, but that is a testament to what Dupe brings. He is very quick off his line and has shown superb reflexes to make very agile and responsive saves. Goalkeepers have a longer career than most and Dupe knows that, saying after he was

called up to the France under-21 squad that “I did not expect to play with Nantes in Ligue 1 as fast. I think I have shown good things in my appearances.”

Dupe played the opening six games of the current season; he conceded five goals but was immense between the sticks as Nantes recorded wins against Lens, Montpellier and Nice. Although he conceded twice, he was in goal as Nantes upset the odds to beat Lyon 3-2 in the Coupe de France. Picking up clean sheets away from home and delivering in front of the Beaujoire will both go a long way towards shaping his future.

Now that he has shone in front of the Brigade Loire, he knows he is no longer just a kid from Morbihan, but that small town mentality helps keep him grounded: “I have not noticed a big change. At home, I am greeted as a normal man. I am not the Nantes goalkeeper.”

Perhaps a little bit of arrogance wouldn’t be so bad for the young man. To improve further he needs to show more of a presence, become more vocal and show a command of his area. He still thinks of himself as Riou’s understudy, but he knows that when he gets the chance to shine, his performances need to instil an element of doubt in Der Zakarian’s mind. Only then will he seize the chance to become their long-term option.

Last season saw the retirement of Mickael Landreau. The former Nantes goalkeeper finished his career with the most appearances in Ligue 1 history. After 10 seasons as a Canari he left huge gloves to fill, but now with Maxime Dupe, the Stade Beaujoire may just have found a future number one who could possibly emulate one of French football’s greatest ever goalkeepers.

Club: FC NANTES

Position: goalkeeper

DOB: 04.03.93

Nat: french

unCapped

maximedupe

pleaSince taking over at OGC Nice in 2012, coach Claude Puel has developed some gems and the latest to shine at the Allianz Riviera could be versatile attacker Alassane Pléa. Snapped up from Ligue 1 rivals Olympique Lyonnais last summer after a disappointing loan spell with Auxerre in the second tier last term, the 22-year-old is starting to break through under the guidance of the canny former Lyon, Monaco and Lille tactician.

After failing to feature in the first three weeks of action in Ligue 1, Pléa gradually broke into Puel’s plans when it quickly became obvious that Darío Cvitanich’s Week 1 heroics was not the sign of a long-term return to form. Cvitanich has since moved on to Pachuca in Mexico and Pléa has been made the main man up top for les Aiglons.

Despite seeming perfect for the role of lone striker, the Franco-Malian is deceptive. His height makes him naturally good in the air, but aerial ability is actually not his forte. Instead, Pléa excels with the ball at his feet and is more about pace and technique than physicality.

Like former Lyon teammate Alexandre Lacazette, the Nice No. 14 was originally played out wide. However, he is not comfortable there and Puel only uses him sparingly out on the wing. Lacazette waited a while to develop a clinical streak and it could be that something similar will happen with Pléa.

It is through the middle where he is at his best, but playing in a Nice team with no experienced striker makes him the focal point now that Cvitanich has gone. That move has put a lot of pressure on the young man’s shoulders in his first full season of Ligue 1 action, and he was not ready for it.

Although his spell at Auxerre was far from prolific, this season it took Pléa until January to equal last season’s total at the Abbé-Deschamps. However, the man from Lille is crying out for an attacking partner at the Allianz Riviera. He provides almost double the amount of goals he scores and is better in the role of maker rather than taker.

The short-lived signing of Hatem Ben Arfa back in January would not have solved Pléa’s problem, but would at least have given him someone else with whom to share the burden. Puel’s team is not short of talent, but there is little consistency there and that is largely down to the fact that this is a very young and inexperienced squad with a few exceptions.

“He is a player who needs space in order to truly express himself,” Puel told Nice’s official website about Pléa earlier this season. “He can can play in a number of roles, out wide or up top. When played either side, he finds it more difficult and he expresses himself better in the middle. He has all of the qualities necessary to impose himself at this level. He is young and has plenty of room to grow. He listens, is simple and does not have a big head.”

Like teammate Carlos Eduardo, Pléa caught the eye during a spectacular 7-2 win away at Guingamp back in October and many perhaps thought that was les Aiglons spreading their wings and expected similar performances to follow. Puel’s team has some maturing to do before displays like that become more common, but Pléa’s goal and pair of assists on that day demonstrated his impressive potential.

What he needs now, in order to develop, is a partner to share the workload. Someone he can play off, to maximise his pace and technical ability. An experienced target man would be a perfect summer signing and would help Pléa to play to his strengths and maximise his potential next season.

Club: ogc nice

Position: forward

DOB: 10.03.93

Nat: french

uncapped

alassaneplea

rolanBordeaux forward Diego Rolán’s career to this point is an illustrative example of just how fast things can develop, for better or worse, in the world of modern football. In just his second season as a professional he hit eight goals in 15 league games for Defensor Sporting in the 2012 Apertura phase of the Campeonato Uruguayo, goals which sealed a place in Uruguay’s squad for the South American Under-20 Championship in January 2013. His performances and goals there removed any traces of doubt about his talent and Bordeaux, having just sold Yoan Gouffran, made their move before the tournament was even over. Alas, Rolán’s arrival in Aquitaine was not smooth. Injured minutes into his league debut, Rolán only managed ten matches during that first half-season and had to wait 15 months for his first goal in Bordeaux colours. Not many young strikers could overcome such a period to reach the level that Rolán has attained, and it is evidence of a hard-headedness that is simultaneously the Uruguayan’s main strength and only significant weakness. By spring 2014 Rolán was getting regular minutes on the right wing, albeit in Francis Gillot’s dire team. A strong pre-season and a change of coach later and he was ready. Rolán started the 2014/15 season on fire, with four goals and an assist in the first six weeks. That contribution lifted Bordeaux to the top of the table and earned Rolán a call-up to the Uruguayan national team, for whom he has started equally promisingly. With Luis Suárez banned for the forthcoming Copa America, Rolán has a massive chance to break into the first team and is already part of the “Who replaces Suárez?” conversation dominating

Uruguay’s sporting media. For his contribution in the penalty area alone, it is a conversation Rolán deserves to be a part of. Rolán’s movement and timing can be a joy to behold. Most of his goals have stemmed from his ability to be not just in the right place at the right time, but also unmarked. Once one sees a striker have so much space, so close to goal, so many times, you realise it cannot be a fluke. And what the rather lithe Rolán lacks in power when it comes to finishing, he makes up for in accuracy, guile and intelligence.

However, he is far from a goal-hanger: his technique and dribbling are solid and despite being more effective when leading the line, he is comfortable playing in an of the attacking midfield roles too.

What Rolán now needs to show is the same game intelligence he already possesses inside the box when further from goal. His passing can be unimaginative, and several Bordeaux counter-attacks have faltered this season on account of his lack of creativity when not given an obvious choice.

Other failings of mentality are more troubling. His failure to take up his designated position at a corner cost Bordeaux their match at Marseille, for which Sagnol criticised Rolán publicly. Soon after, Rolán’s frustration that he had not started the match against Nantes manifested itself in a bizarre bust-up on the bench with Nicolas Maurice-Belay, Rolán having ignored his team-mate’s handshake. A brief demotion to Bordeaux’s CFA side followed, although the lesson did not sink in.

His and Bordeaux’s start to 2015 was marred by another fight with a colleague in training, swiftly followed by an unsubtle moan on twitter about not getting more minutes away at Bastia. The Uruguayan now risks earning himself a reputation as a moody troublemaker. But just as Rolán overcame the setbacks of his difficult first year in France to lead Bordeaux’s scoring charts, he overcame that tricky winter and has exploded back into life this spring with key goals that have re-established Bordeaux’s push for a European place. More goals for Bordeaux and Uruguay will surely follow, and the more his attitude improves, the greater the number of goals one can expect.

Club: girondins de bordeaux

Position: forward

DOB: 23.04.93

Nat: uruguayan

Capped: uruguay

diegorolan

bosettiAlexy Bosetti joined the Nice youth set-up at sixteen, and is in his third senior season with the club of which he is also a diehard fan. Occasionally a crashing physical presence in attack, the next few seasons will be key to seeing if he can make good on his potential; the reservation is that in his third season, he is still ‘occasional’, not establishing himself to the same degree that some of the other young talented forwards have done in that time.

From six starts in 2012/13, to 13 in a 2013/14 season cut short by injury, to 11 so far, his contribution is increasing, but at a slower rate than might have been expected at the start of his senior career.

While working his way into the first team, Bosetti was also establishing himself – again slowly – in the international set-up. He was a member of the 2013 World Cup-winning under-20 squad, but – with such a breadth of talent at this level that an entirely different squad played in the Toulon Tournament that summer – Bosetti was restricted to the role of substitute as this was Yaya Sanogo’s tournament, with Jean-Christophe Bahebeck and Florian Thauvin also ahead of him in the selection. He played for only an hour over the four games.

One gets the feeling that Bosetti may never leave Nice. With Claude Puel’s focus on developing young players in-house, plus the fact he is a former member of the main supporters group, he has not gone out on loan, but stayed, steadily but slightly increasing

his minutes per game season on season. In a team that can struggle to score, and whose ambition is mid-table safety, he is a bright spot for the fans.

Five goals this season is not a huge tally, but Bosetti has a habit of scoring important ones; he opened his account on the first day of the season with the winner against Toulouse, charging into the area to head home from Gregoire Puel’s lobbed cross.

He also scored the winner against Metz in the dying seconds of injury time by appearing out of nowhere to pounce on a lazy backpass. His opener in the 3-1 loss to Bordeaux was a fizzing long-range effort, and the second to put Nice ahead in a 3-1 win

over Lorient was a diving header at the far post. Add to those a crazy scramble against Metz in the Coupe de la Ligue, where he picked up a rebound and shot from a tight angle as Nice fought their way back to parity from 3-0 down, only to go out on penalties. As if to shore up his home-grown status, all his goals this season have been scored at the Allianz Riviera.

The fans love him because he is one of them – suspended after displaying his Brigade Sud Nice tattoo when scoring in the epic 5-4 Coupe de France win at the Velodrome in 2014, sitting in the stands with the away fans for the derby in Monaco when he was injured at the end of that season.

Arguably this fierce loyalty to his club could be a detriment to his career, if he prioritises it over his own development; but there is something to respect in the idea that we might be looking at one of those rare things nowadays: a one-club man.

His career trajectory could well be that he continues to get more minutes, more goals, becoming a regular starter; then after a peak couple of seasons, a gentle plateau, returning to being an occasional player, the veteran substitute, the valuable dressing room presence for the youngsters, and then, eventually, to the stands, to sit with his fellow ultras and sing his team on.

Club: ogc nice

Position: forward

DOB: 23.04.93

Nat: french

capped: France u20

alexybosetti

kondogbiaThe term “man mountain” is bandied around frequently but in the case of 22-year-old Geoffrey Kondogbia, it is an apt description. At 6ft 2in he cuts quite the imposing figure, whether sitting just in front of his defence or barrelling forward. Comparisons to Patrick Vieira – and to fellow France Under-20 World Cup winner Paul Pogba – are to be expected for a player of his style and that position, but in this case, the youngster could actually go on to emulate the legends he is compared to.

After starting his career in Lens, he then made a name for himself in La Liga with Sevilla before moving to Monaco as part of the Russian-backed Claudio Ranieri revolution, Kondogbia has made further strides forward in his game during the 2014/15 season. It is a testament to the talent of the player that despite missing over two months of the season due to injury, limiting his Ligue 1 appearances to only 16, he has still been a consistently strong performer whenever he takes the field. arguably been one of Monaco’s best players.

He possesses phenomenal power and energy, able to run the length of the pitch time and time again not only to provide cover for his defence but also to contribute in attack. He has benefitted from playing alongside the veteran Jeremy Toulalan and has learned the responsibilities required for playing in such a key and demanding position.

It took time and patience for Kondogbia to make his mark during his first season back in France. Under Leandro Jardim, Kondogbia has taken his game to another level and has

established his place in the starting lineup.

The extra dimension that he provides to the team comes from using his positioning and strength to support Toulalan and the defence, then his touch and his vision to set the team on their way to what is becoming a signature counter-attack. His energy and drive has helped them to quietly become a fourth horse in the title race, as well as to progress to the latter stages of the Champions League.

Kondogbia continues to develop his own game too, and this season he has added both goals and assists to his game, as well as becoming a more general attacking threat. While his sheer

strength and his tackling ability allow him to boss the midfield area, he does still need to improve his distribution. There have been times where he has shown his energy and tenacity in getting back to rob a player of the ball only to give it away with a wayward pass. Once this skill is honed, Kondogbia really will be a complete player.

Champions League football has allowed Kondogbia to blossom in front of a wider audience. His performances in the group stage, in which Monaco conceded only one goal in six games, were strong but it was in the first leg of the knockout round away to Arsenal that he really came to the attention of an international audience. His superb man of the match performance saw him nullify the threat of Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez in the Arsenal midfield while also firing home a deflected opening goal. He was a rare bright light in a less impressive team display in the return leg that saw Monaco limp home, but Kondogbia had already contributed sufficiently.

It is no surprise that after such a strong season and numerous impressive performances in the Champions League, Arsenal are sniffing around the player with a view to making a bid. The comparisons to Vieira would surely go into overdrive if that transfer came off.

To cap a successful 2014/15, Kondogbia was rewarded with a recall to Didier Deschamps’ French team for the friendly games at the end of March, nearly two years after his last call up, and excelled in a starting role in the 2-0 win over Denmark, setting up on goal and having a major role in the other. It is just reward for a player who has flourished under the tutelage of Jardim. The remainder of 2015 and the lead-up to Euro 2016 could see Kondogbia really explode onto the international scene and then, who knows, maybe future players will be compared to him.

Club: AS Monaco

Position: midfield

DOB: 25.04.93

Nat: french

Capped: france

geoffreykondogbia

bahebeckJean-Christophe Bahebeck is one of that rare breed of players at Paris Saint-Germain: he actually made his breakthrough before the Qatari buyout. When talking about the next crop of young stars to make an impact in Ligue 1, it seems like the versatile forward has been around for as long as PSG – it’s easy to forget that he does not turn 22 until May.

Two years ago, he was coming to the end of a loan spell at Troyes. While there Bahebeck played well, if inconsistently, and grabbed six goals in all competitions; not enough to prevent Troyes from getting relegated, but a decent start from a personal perspective.

He went off to the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey and made a strong impression, scoring a couple of goals and returning with a winner’s medal. The following season, however, was a disaster. Sent on loan to Valenciennes, Bahebeck experienced relegation yet again, but this time without making any mark at all, profligate in front of goal and sloppy in his general play.

However, just as the perfect summer could feed into a terrible season, so a terrible season could feed into the perfect summer. Bahebeck played brilliantly at the 2014 Toulon Tournament and then, as PSG went without many regulars during pre-season, the forward saw some play-time and finally started to show what so many people had been expecting for so long. Excellent overall contributions

and six goals across five games meant that regular watchers of PSG were clamouring for him to feature in the first team once the season started. When those chances came his way he picked up a handful of assists and, in matches at Toulouse and Lorient where PSG were not merely losing but being totally outplayed, it was Bahebeck who dragged them back into contention with brilliantly taken goals. Cue jokes about JCB digging PSG out of a hole and more questions about why he was not being used regularly. Those questions were all the more poignant given that for both goals Bahebeck’s runs had been found by the same player, Marco Verratti, indicative of a budding on-field relationship between

the pair. For a team whose players so often appear to be on different wavelengths, this kind of interaction between colleagues who could potentially play together for another ten years promised much.

Bahebeck’s performances during the autumn showcased his blistering speed as well as the intelligence of his running. We also saw a level of technical proficiency in dribbling, passing, finishing and even set-piece delivery that had deserted him during his spell at Valenciennes. There are times when comparisons between Bahebeck and Alexandre Lacazette, two years his senior, seem totally justified. Despite a new deal extending Bahebeck’s contract at PSG to 2019 and impressive performances that make you wonder why Laurent Blanc continues to persist with Ezequiel Lavezzi, the France under-21 international’s minutes almost completely dried up over the winter and into the spring.

Even then there are moments from which Bahebeck can draw encouragement: he might be playing at a club with its fair share of prima donnas, but everything about his behaviour either on the field or in front of a microphone suggests that his head is screwed on the right way. He is always trying, always working, always humble. It is this as much as his talent which suggests that he will, eventually, make it big. Sadly, like so many talents coming out of the capital, it seems that he will have to leave to reach his goals. One can only hope that he picks his moment and his destination wisely.

Club: paris saint-germain

Position: forward

DOB: 01.05.93

Nat: french

capped: France u21

jean-christophebahebeck

fekirLyon president Jean-Michal Aulas is arguably the biggest wind-up merchant in Ligue 1. So when he refers to Lyon youngster Nabil Fekir as “our very own Messi”, one can be forgiven for laughing it off as another piece of trolling. However, even at this early stage of Fekir’s career, the claim already has the potential to prove one of JMA’s more sensible outbursts.

Born in Lyon, Fekir was given his first football at two days old by his dad, who still volunteers at Nabil’s first club, Vaulx-en-Velin, where his three brothers continue to play. His dad remembers that he was never seen without a ball at his feet, and that it is in the narrow corridors of the home that he honed his close control and dribbling skills.

The young Fekir joined Lyon for a short period at 13. He returned to Vaulx-en-Velin, then to another local side, Saint-Priest, for whom he starred in a Coupe Gambardella match against Lyon, persuading the club to re-sign him at 18 (his dad says that before Lyon returned for him, Saint-Etienne expressed interest but, as a born and bred Gône, he refused to meet with them).

Two successful years in the reserves earned Fekir a professional contract and, in August 2013, a first-team debut as a substitute in the Champions League qualifier at Real Sociedad. A handful more games followed, but it was a match at the end of the season that first made people sit up and take notice. A week after appearing as a substitute in Lyon’s Coupe de la Ligue final defeat, Fekir started against Bastia and produced a man of the match

performance, scoring one and providing two assists. This season, Fekir has resoundingly shown that the Bastia match was not merely a flash in the pan, becoming an integral member of Lyon’s young home-grown team, as they make an unlikely challenge for the title.

Forming a particularly close relationship with Alexandre Lacazette, Fekir has excelled, whether played as one of two strikers, or in the number 10 position. Like a certain Argentinian to whom Aulas alluded, Fekir is predominantly left-footed and uses his low centre of gravity to launch breath-taking dribbles which confound defenders. He has an excellent first touch, great control of the ball and the speed of thought and action to

find solutions and execute them one step or two ahead of his opponent. His seven assists include long-range defence-splitting balls (to Lacazette against Lille) and visionary flicks (through the whole PSG defence to N’Jie). His 11 goals demonstrate that he can shoot from either foot, with strength or finesse (just ask poor Montpellier keeper Geoffrey Jourdren, who has this season been beaten by a powerful curling shot and – twice – by the same impudent chip).

Asked what kind of player he is, Fekir called himself a “provocateur”. A great description for both its positive and negative connotations: Fekir has provoked six penalties this season – a Europe-wide high – but with a hint of simulation to several of them. There is, then, still room for improvement and maturing. Fekir can tend to go missing in games, either sulking after a poor decision, or often looking lost without the support of Gourcuff and Lacazette. A more consistent decisiveness will come with experience.

This rawness has perhaps manifested itself in the recent France vs Algeria controversy. After only one France under-21 appearance, Fekir became embroiled in a row over which country he would represent, torn between family roots in Algeria and his home – and the greater exposure – of France. Nabil has now chosen les Bleus after lots of wavering, and appeared in the recent friendlies against Brazil and Denmark. Many Algerians, including family, were left upset and Fekir has no doubt been badly advised throughout the media furore. Perhaps the episode will prove a good lesson for him in the additional burdens of top-class football. The hope is that the experience will not take away what his coach, Hubert Fournier, calls his “insouciance”.

Fekir once said that he never would have imagined one day playing at the Gerland. Now he is one of the stadium’s heroes as Lyon fight for Champions League football. If all goes well, Fekir and Lyon may be using their new Stade des Lumières, only minutes from Vaulx-en-Velin, to host some big names; who knows, we may see “our very own Messi” come up against the original.

Club: olympique lyonnais

Position: forward

DOB: 18.07.93

Nat: FRENCH

Capped: FRANCE

nabilfekir

digneSpearheading a group of superb young French left-backs, Lucas Digne might not have seen as much first-team action as he would have liked following his move to Paris Saint-Germain, but there can be no doubting he is an exciting young defender. Many would argue that his progress could have been more rapid had he managed to secure the first choice spot in Paris, but his battle with Maxwell looks set to continue with the veteran having recently signed a contract extension.

Whilst some are beginning to question whether he needs to look at a move away from the capital to ensure more regular first team football and a place back in Didier Deschamps’ national set-up, it should also be said that he needs to do more to grab the opportunities that Laurent Blanc hands him.

Digne’s strengths are the abilities many people expect a modern day full-back. Boundless energy, a willingness to push forward, and a wicked left foot capable of providing pin-point crosses, the 21-year-old is a potent attacking threat. No better example of this threat was his superb cross for Edinson Cavani’s opener against Lyon back in September 2014. From the far left by-line he swung in a cross to find the Uruguayan striker perfectly between two Lyon defenders to head home. In a team full of accurate long ball specialists, Digne has shown he can mix it with the big names.

However he is also able to balance this with the traditional duties required of him. A

relatively tough tackler for someone so diminutive, Digne is not afraid to get stuck in and show his core defensive responsibilities have not been forgotten. One weakness in his game remains his concentration and positioning in defensive areas. With his runs forward, the space he leaves behind can often be taken advantage of. He still needs to learn that a cool, calm head is needed at times when under pressure but the same can be said for so many PSG players during the 2014/15 season.

The early promise he had shown with Lille and the continuation of his development with the Ligue 1 champions was rewarded in the summer of 2014 as he was picked for Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad.

Digne even secured some game time with an outing in the final group game against Ecuador where he helped Les Bleus keep a clean sheet.

No one can argue with the fact that the tournament gave Digne some excellent experience, but Blanc’s insistence on picking Maxwell as his more regular left-back has somewhat stunted that expected natural progression for Digne during the ensuing Ligue 1 season. He may not have made the position his own, but in a season where PSG have been far from perfect, he has been as dependable as anyone else. In his ongoing battle with Maxwell, it is the Brazilian who is coming across as the more dependable option this season, however. Digne will continue to play minutes in the league, but in the tougher challenges, Blanc calls upon the veteran.

His battle with the vastly experienced Brazilian wherein it seems neither plays more than a couple of games before being dropped, has now come at the expense of his place in the national team.

There is no doubt that Digne has all the talent and attributes to be a regular first team footballer. On the one hand Digne could view Maxwell’s contract extension as a chance to continue learning from a player who has seen and done it all. On the other, though, it could be seen as a big kick in the teeth from the PSG hierarchy, one that seems to suggest they do not have full faith in the youngster.

That is this crossroad that Digne now faces. With everything he has at his disposal and Euro 2016 on the horizon it may be that the youngster looks to take a “now or never attitude” to his career at PSG. With Manchester City and Roma – coached by the man who gave him Ligue 1 football, Rudi Garcia – reportedly interested, the future can still be bright for Lucas Digne.

Club: paris saint-germain

Position: defence

DOB: 20.07.93

Nat: french

capped: France

lucasdigne

n jieClinton N’Jie is yet another talent to emerge from the Lyon youth system. As with many of their hot prospects, he has been gradually eased into the team, getting a handful of substitute appearances in the last two seasons before a rotation of starts and subs this season, the latter usually 20-30 minutes rather than a token amount of time.

While this is all very normal for a Lyon youngster being promoted to the first team, there has been another angle to N’Jie’s development this season. As Cameroon tried to pull themselves together after a disastrous World Cup where they lost all three group games and scored only one goal, he was brought into the squad for Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, having only made three senior starts for his club.

He got off to a flyer, scoring on his debut against DR Congo, and twice in his second match, a 4-1 trouncing of Ivory Coast, as Cameroon unexpectedly topped a very difficult qualifying group. However, having started all six qualifying games and the pre-tournament preparation match, Volker Finke left him on the bench for the tournament proper, to the frustration of the fans, until late on in the do-or-die last group game against Ivory Coast. They lost; the cheers that greeted his entrance implied an unrealistic weight of expectation placed on such young shoulders.

On his return from the tournament, there was more expectation to bear – with Alexandre Lacazette out injured, he started against PSG and Lorient, scoring in both. The Lorient game,

in particular, showcased his signature move on the wing – staying on the shoulder of his defender, waiting for the ball over, before spinning backwards and away from him into space.

He’s rapid, but his defensive contribution is weak, and he seems more productive when playing off a central striker. Of his half-dozen assists, three have been to set up Lacazette, all short passes across as the two break up the pitch together. With Lacazette back and firing, and Nabil Fekir often preferred as the second striker if they play a front two, N’Jie’s role returned to that of substitute; after getting an assist in the 5-1 win over Montpellier at the Gerland, he was on the bench when they did it again at the Mosson.

He got a half against Marseille, and started against Nice, but by late March had played 90 minutes only three times, averaging fewer than 50 minutes per appearance.This leaves him in a slightly uncertain position this season: evidently, if the league’s top scorer is fit, he will play, so the options for N’Jie to start are limited, leaving him having to grasp those chances, or when coming off the bench, with both hands. As Lyon look to keep their title push going, there will be little room for risk.

Further ahead, however, his prospects look good – there are continuing rumours about Lacazette’s future, and OL are a club who sell when the money is right. This could free up a starting role, particularly as, conversely, OL are not likely to pay big money for a replacement. There are, naturally, other young strikers developing in the team, but he has more than twice the playing time of Mohamed Yattara, Yassine Benzia, and Maxwel Cornet put together.

N’Jie is in only his second senior season, and there is maybe no better place for a young player to develop than Lyon. Hubert Fournier is continuing where Remi Garde left off in terms of integrating the younger players in his squad, and the financial situation means that bright lights may move on but there is little likelihood of an expensive recruit pitching up and disrupting the progression of those who are already there, and showing themselves to be good enough. N’Jie’s record so far shows that he is, and could be, a decisive player for club and country for years to come.

Club: olympique lyonnais

Positon: forward

DOB: 15.08.93

Nat: cameroonian

Capped: Cameroon

clintonn’jie

leminaMany eyebrows were raised when Marseille bought Mario Lemina from Lorient at the back end of the 2013 summer transfer window. In total, OM forked out roughly £3.5m for his services, a fee which many said was too high and too much of a risk given what he had previously shown. However, although Lemina had only started 10 games for the Brittany club, he had shown enough in that short time to suggest that he was one of French football’s next crop of stars. Lemina has now completed nearly two seasons with OM, and many would argue that he has justified the price tag and has really developed during his time at the Mediterranean giants. During his short time at the club, he has been forced to undergo a number of changes around him, both on and off the field. Most notably he has been under the guidance of three different managers.

Under Marcelo Bielsa, Lemina had played a huge role in the club’s pre-season matches, but an injury ruled him out from the start of the season and he didn’t make an appearance until the fifth week. Once the Argentine boss had decided on his lineup, Lemina didn’t start a match until the beginning of November, against Lens in Week 12. Just like Lyon’s Corentin Tolisso, the debate over Lemina’s best position only exists because of his excellent ability to adapt and show a high level of versatility. First and foremost, he is probably more at home playing in the ‘box-to-box’ midfielder role, but he is equally

adept as a playmaker or deep-lying grinder. It’s not completely unknown for him to fill in at right-back, or on the right side of midfield, too.

His forays forward have led to two goals this season, playing a huge part in Marseille’s title challenge. Down against Bordeaux, it was Lemina’s header that sparked their 3-1 comeback. Then before his red card against Rennes, the midfielder finished from close range after Guingamp goalkeeper Jonas Lossl failed to clear his lines. It is perhaps the lack of a really strong physical build that prevents Lemina from being an out-and-out defensive holding player.

However he has all the other attributes to succeed in that role: great intelligence and work rate, a strong engine, and the ability to really time a tackle well. Many would see Lemina as a street fighter. He chases a lot of balls down, harries and pressurises opponents into mistakes, and seems to possess a strong determined attitude. Until recently, it seemed he was a pretty fair player too, not known for having a nasty streak. However, in an incident against Rennes recently, he viciously punched Ola Toivonen in the groin, leading to a much-deserved ban.

To succeed at a club like Marseille and run the midfield, one perhaps needs something of a nasty streak. The punch was disgraceful, but it showed he had fire in his belly, something that will prove useful when better-channelled. The future for Lemina generally looks bright. It’s never easy being at a club like Marseille where there are historically plenty of issues both on and off the field. Unwanted distractions can affect young players, but at the same time it’s also one of the best footballing environments in France to showcase one’s talents. It certainly looks like he will be back playing European football next season, maybe even with a Ligue 1 title under his belt.

The next few years should bring both mental and physical maturity to his game. He has a lot of qualities, but it’s fair to say he’s still quite raw, certainly in terms of his ultimate potential. Definitely one to follow and with the right guidance and a bit of luck, he could become extremely good.

Club: olympique de marseille

Position: midfield

DOB: 01.09.93

Nat: french

capped: France u21

mariolemina

ferreiraMonaco’s transfer policy since being taken over by Dmitry Rybolovlev has attracted great criticism, yet Yannick Ferreira Carrasco lends weight to the theory that the principality outfit can still thrive even without the big-money transfers. The strength of the academy at Stade Louis II has been totally overshadowed by deals to sign the likes of Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez, who have come and gone – though in Falcao’s case perhaps to return again. That Monaco have progressed deep into Europe owes little to superstars and more to a crop of exciting young players, many of whom have been shrewdly signed. Several, however, have been carefully groomed. Ferreira Carrasco is one such player, who has now been enjoying life on the Mediterranean coast for several years, having been prised away from FC Genk as a 16-year-old in 2010. The Belgian is now established as one of the offensive leaders at the principality club, having debuted while they were still in Ligue 2 during the 2012/13 season. That it was he who scored the goal that ultimately eliminated Arsenal from the Champions League was a fitting symbol of the way in which he has grown as an individual in a team that is also beginning to flourish again. “The team is doing well this season, so automatically as an attacking player you take more

risks and more things work,” said Ferreira Carrasco. “I try to be as decisive as possible, to score goals and make assists.” Of course, since being named as Eurosport’s Best Ligue 2 Prospect of the 2012/13 season and despite striking a historic European goal for his side, it has not been all plain sailing for the youngster. Last season’s policy of big signings reduced his minutes on the field dramatically, but this also came about due to a tendency to overdo things individually. Erstwhile coach Claudio Ranieri was left frustrated by the winger often running down blind alleys, being lazy to backtrack or failing to make decisions on a par with his technical abilities.

“He thinks too much individually,” remarked the Italian in January 2014. “Now he must think collectively. When we attack, sometimes he forgets to come back and that can’t happen. He must learn to understand that.” Leonardo Jardim has built a counter-attacking system around the likes of Ferreira Carrasco, who has in turn responded with a more team-orientated ethic. Evidence of his natural unwillingness to defend is still in evidence, though it is not as clearly marked as it was under the Portuguese coach’s predecessor. The 21-year-old offers lightning pace on the counter-attack and loves to exploit large gaps in behind opposing defences. He is very much a modern day winger in that he prefers to play on the left, which is the supposed ‘unnatural’ side for a right-footed player, due to his desire to cut inside and get shots away at goal. His approach is thrillingly direct, though there are still some clear weaknesses. One which perhaps most needs to be addressed is a lack of confidence in his left foot. He might have scored a memorable goal in the second leg against Arsenal, had he the willingness to pull the trigger when on his weaker side, but after beating three defenders he dallied, and the opportunity was lost. With competition for a place in the Belgium national squad currently so strong, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Nacer Chadli all available for Les Diables Rouges, such frailties must be eradicated if he is to become a regular in one of Europe’s most promising national set-ups. He made his senior debut coming on as a substitute in a 5-0 win over Cyprus in a Euro 2016 qualifier. It is a widely-held belief that he retains immense potential. Spain and Portugal both courted the player for international football by virtue of his parentage, yet YFC knocked both back. Having established himself at Monaco, the time is ripe to impress on a greater stage.

Club: as monaco

Position: forward

DOB: 14.09.93

Nat: belgian

Capped: belgium

yannickferreira carrasco

boufalThe main quality that has helped propel Sofiane Boufal into the top flight of French football this season is very good technique, which is one of the main reasons why Lille decided to splash out £2.6 million for him.

Boufal is something of a late bloomer in terms of youth development. It took until he was nearly 20 years old to make his first start for Ligue 2 side Angers. He made two brief substitute appearances as a 17-year-old but it wasn’t until the 2013/14 season that he was given his first start.

Angers beat Istres 4-2 on the opening day of the season, with Boufal setting up Khaled Ayari for the away side’s third goal. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t add to that tally for the rest of the 2013/14 season, or even register a goal, but he caught the eye a number of times with some strong performances. This season, Boufal continued where he left off, but added a more clinical edge to his game. He is very light-footed on the ball, possesses great dribbling skills and is more than capable of making defenders look like idiots. Ligue 2 is not always the greatest of environments for this type of player due to poor pitches, but at times he looked like he was gliding along the field, effortlessly jinking past helpless defenders. Before his winter transfer to Lille he scored four times and supplied three assists in just 16 appearances for Angers.

His excellent season sparked rumours of a move, perhaps sooner than would have been expected, but Lille were in desperate need of improving their attacking armoury and saw him as a great option, both short- and long-term. Boufal is extremely versatile in the final third of the field and capable of playing in a number of different positions. Left-wing is probably his best spot, but he can make his mark anywhere, even as a striker. He has very nimble feet, great pace, superb technique and it always feels like he’s very balanced on the ball. There are areas he has to work on, however. At times he seems like quite a greedy player and needs to improve on the team and vision aspect of his game.

There have been a number of times when he has held on to the ball for too long, trying to do something extra-fancy when really the more efficient option would be to look for a teammate.

Another problem is that he likes to shoot too much. He just doesn’t seem like a player who has great shooting accuracy, with the exception of one or two strikes. He would be much better off finding a teammate or looking for an assist rather than wasting a potentially promising position. However, as with most young wingers, that will come with time and experience; with proper guidance he will become a huge asset to Les Dogues.

One other issue is lack of stamina. More often than not he struggled to last the full 90 minutes for Angers and would burn himself out just after the hour mark.

It’s difficult to say exactly how far Boufal can go in the game. The good thing is that he’s already made his first big career move and it shouldn’t do him much harm to be at Lille. The club has a good record with young players, many of whom have moved onto bigger and better things. It’s likely he’ll cement his place as a starter next season. For now, he’s had to be content with mostly a place on the bench, but that was to be expected. Until he builds his muscle and stamina up then he probably won’t be able to start matches consistently at Ligue 1 level.

Boufal certainly has the technical attributes to go a long way in the game and is sure to develop more in other departments, so it’s safe to assume his future is bright.

Club: lille osc

Position: midfield

DOB: 17.09.93

Nat: french

uncapped

soFIANEboufal

batshuayiMany of this season’s previews named Marseille’s summer signing Michy Batshuayi as one of the potential stars of the Ligue 1 campaign. It has not quite worked out that way but the striker has shown that he has all the tools to become, sooner rather than later, one of Ligue 1’s superstars.

Marseille signed Batshuayi from Standard Liège in the close season for a reported fee of €7 million, after a fantastic 2013/14 season in which the striker scored 21 goals, helping his team to finish second and winning the Ebony Boot – the award for the best African (origin) player in the league – in the process.

Unsurprisingly, the suitors came calling, with rumours of interest from Swansea, Newcastle and Arsenal – a team for whom Batshuayi has always professed a liking. But Marseille – helped by a rare example of coach Marcelo Bielsa and president Vincent Labrune singing from the same hymn sheet – prevailed.

Earlier in his career, it seemed less likely that Batshuayi would make it to the top of the game, as disciplinary problems led Anderlecht to dump him. Liège took the gamble and he repaid them, rising to the first team and scoring 44 goals over three seasons, improving his ratio each year. International recognition has followed and he has excelled for the Belgium under-21 team (one squad exclusion for inviting girls to his bedroom aside), scoring seven goals in thirteen appearances. Batshuayi also qualifies to play for the Democratic Republic

of Congo, but recently confirmed that Belgium is his choice. Although part of Marc Wilmots’ 30-man shortlist for the Brazil 2014 World Cup squad, he had to wait for a Euro 2016 qualifier against Cyprus last month to make his full debut, coming on as substitute and scoring with his first shot as a full international.

Batshuayi has all of the attributes to become a world-beating striker. Predominantly right-footed but also able to finish with his left, he has a powerful, accurate shot and can score from long range or close in. His speed allows him to get behind defences, and he can also use his strength to hold the ball up well. His ability to receive the ball with his back to goal, turn and shoot is fast becoming his trademark, and is responsible for three of his eight Ligue 1 goals.

He also has the speedy footwork to make space for himself in congested areas and has a few tricks in his locker too, as highlighted in particular in his first start of the season, against Lille. He is at times a little too selfish, but this should improve with experience. His self-confessed weakness is heading, but he has time to work on this too; in any case, it didn’t harm Henry’s career too much.

His pre-season for Marseille was prolific and it looked as though he would set Ligue 1 on fire. However, he has for most of the season been kept out by the excellent form of Gignac in the lone striker role, leading to some fears that his youthful petulance could resurface. Yet, under the strict guidance of Bielsa, he has been a model of professionalism in Marseille. He is popular and generous with the fans and seems to get on very well with team-mates, including Gignac: “he is world class and I see it more as an apprenticeship than as competition. He has great experience so I’m learning a lot. We chat, we get on very well. He’s teaching me by talking and I’m learning by watching when I’m on the bench.”

When he has been given the chance, Batshuayi has grasped it, notably scoring a five-minute match-saving double off the bench against Saint-Etienne, and grabbing further braces against Toulouse and Lens (achieving his ambition to score in the Stade de France in the process). In the meantime, he sees this year as part of his learning curve: “Ligue 1 is not easy – it’s much more physical, more technical, it’s a whole other level. So I have no targets, just to learn and improve”.

If Batshuayi continues to progress, one of Europe’s powerhouses may come calling. In the meantime, Michy seems more than content with life on the Canebière: “it’s sunny and there’s a beach!”

Club: olympique de marseille

Position: forward

DOB: 02.10.93

Nat: belgian

capped: belgium

michybatshuayi

fabinhoA native of Campinas in São Paulo state, Fábio Henrique Tavares – better known as Fabinho – came through the youth teams at local side Paulínia before joining Rio giants Fluminense at 17. A year of stellar performances in Flu’s youth sides put him on the radar of Portuguese super agent, Jorge Mendes.

Technically Fabinho is owned by Rio Ave, but in this context they are effectively a holding company. Rio Ave/Mendes got hold of Fabinho in 2012 and immediately sent him to Real Madrid’s B side. He played the whole year there (even making a league appearance for the senior side), but Los Merengues decided not to buy. Mendes was at this point making a fortune selling players to Monaco, so he sent his young right-back to the principality as well. Fabinho took little time to make his mark. Benefitting from a timely injury to Andrea Raggi, his main rival for the right-back role, he started the season in Claudio Ranieri’s first XI and was soon earning rave reviews, his brilliant performance against PSG in a 1-1 draw at the Stade Louis II in February 2014 being particularly impressive. That game showcased Fabinho’s attacking qualities – an awareness of when to time his runs for maximum effect, and some excellent crosses, one of which Thiago Silva could only turn into his own net. But his real strength lies in the defensive side of his game. The Brazilian has been blessed with some handy physical gifts. He is quick, tall and powerful. But these qualities stand out because the Brazilian is so adept at knowing how to use them.

His speed is less impressive than his sense of anticipation, often enabling him to cut out an endless succession of opposition passes. This can be seen even more clearly when he plays in central midfield, a position in which he excels having played there throughout his time with Paulínia, even though he now prefers right-back.

Fabinho has the advantage of being taller than the average full-back but, more importantly, his excellent positional awareness helps him to excel when defending set-pieces. Fabinho is strong, but is also proficient in using his body, especially when positioning himself between opponents and the ball in tight areas. In such a physical league, this combination of mind and muscle makes Fabinho a serious asset.

Like Ranieri, Leonardo Jardim has shown complete confidence in Fabinho. His consistency has caught the attention of scouts from several Champions League regulars, as well as Seleçao boss Dunga. His first call-up, as disciplinary cover for Maicon in September 2014, was mainly due to his availability given that he was already with Brazil’s Olympic side at the time. However, the second, in March 2015, was based on merit alone, reward for his contribution to Monaco’s watertight defence as well as a stunning performance in central midfield away to Arsenal in the Champions League.

While Brazil may not have the same strength in depth at right-back of years gone by, it is still an impressive achievement on Fabinho’s part to have broken into the squad in just his second year of regular top-flight football. If everything proceeds at the current rate of progress, he is expected to play in the Olympic team that will chase that elusive gold medal at Rio 2016. Fabinho has taken well not only to the French league, but to life there too. In contrast to many recent Ligue 1 imports, he already speaks extremely good French, and both he and Monaco’s management have expressed serious interest in making their current arrangement permanent. Rare is the player who so early in his career shows such intelligence in his decisions both on and off the pitch. Naturally, neither he nor Monaco’s management are the only ones who have a say here: Mendes will ultimately sell Fabinho to the highest bidder. Whoever does sign him will not be disappointed.

Club: as monaco

Position: defence

DOB: 23.10.93

Nat: brazilian

capped: brazil u20

fabinho

umtitiIt feels peculiar to describe a 21-year-old as a veteran but it does feel as though Samuel Umtiti is exactly that. For a man so young, he seems to have been around forever. In actual fact it has only been four seasons since Umtiti made his debut for Lyon. In that time he has gone from an emergency left-back to one of Ligue 1’s most impressive centre-backs, and one of the first names on the Lyon teamsheet.

Since breaking through to the first team in 2012, Umtiti has played over 120 league and cup games for les Gones, a hugely impressive number for someone so young. It was a permanent move to his more familiar centre-back role that saw Umtiti really start to shine and it is this season that has seen him announce himself as a star for now, not just the future.

In a Lyon side well-known for its youth, Umtiti has really stepped up his responsibilities to take on a senior role within the team. Able to command the defensive line, even with more experienced players alongside him, Umtiti has excelled under the pressure. While he can occasionally be caught out of position, these instances are rare and his organisational skill in marshalling a defence that includes the likes of Christophe Jallet, Henri Bedimo and Milan Bisevac has transformed Lyon’s defence into one of the meanest in Ligue 1.

Umtiti has become part of the spine of one of Ligue 1’s most impressive units, together with goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, captain Maxime Gonalons and star striker Alexandre Lacazette.

He is as strong in the air as he is with the ball on the ground, and is unafraid to put his foot in when required. A statistic of note is that in just over 90 Ligue 1 games he has only received one red card and 14 bookings. For a centre-back so young, where rashness can so easily be exposed, he has shown intelligence and a calm head. Umtiti also possesses an excellent turn of pace that enables him to cope with almost anything that is thrown his way. At times he has even popped up to take a surprisingly good free kick even getting himself on the scoresheet with his late, late equaliser in Paris.

Season after season Umtiti is improving and he has become the poster boy for what can happen if you give young players a

chance and stick with them – and a shining example of just how strong the Lyon academy is. Umtiti has already shown at the age of 21 that he possesses all the attributes of a world class centre-back, and must now continue to improve on his already substantial skill-set, his leadership skills and perhaps also his effectiveness at attacking set-pieces.

Umtiti has international experience, having played at every level from under-17 to the under-21s, and he was part of the Under-20 World Cup winning team in 2013 – although he missed the final after being sent off in the semi-final.

It has come as some surprise then that, despite the high quality competition for places in the centre-back berth, he has not yet been rewarded with a senior call-up by Didier Deschamps, but with Euro 2016 looming and Lyon looking set to finish strongly in Ligue 1, that call may not be too far away. It would be just reward for four seasons of fantastic progression, consistency, and sheer talent and determination.

Seen as one of the figureheads for the young Lyon side created by Remi Garde and moulded into shape by Hubert Fournier, Umtiti is a player on whom the Lyon fans are pinning their hopes of a return to the glory days of the mid-2000s. Similarly, however, it is easy to see why the likes of Real Madrid and a host of Premier League clubs have recently shown an interest in the young defender. With the number of quality young French centre-backs growing, Umtiti could and perhaps should be the next one to hit the big time.

Club: olympique lyonnais

Position: defence

DOB: 14.11.93

Nat: french

CappeD: France u21

samuelumtiti

prcicIn amongst the rough and tumble of the midfield, especially in as robust a league as Ligue 1, skill can tend to be obscured by all the physicality. But occasionally a footballer emerges who seems to rise above the maelstrom to glide across the pitch, providing caviar to team-mates. Those players are often frustrating, flitting in and out of matches, seemingly showing disinterest and then suddenly coming up with a control, a move or a pass that takes the breath away. Players like Pastore and Gourcuff spring to mind. Sanjin Prcic has the potential to join them.

Born in Belfort in eastern France, Prcic joined the big club of the area, Sochaux-Montbéliard, as a seven-year-old. Torn knee ligaments when aged only 18 delayed his entry into the professional ranks, but he showed good character to overcome that injury and ready himself to join the first team squad for the beginning of the 2013/14 season. One month in, and a few months short of his twentieth birthday, Prcic made his Sochaux debut, playing the final minute against Ajaccio.

A few bit-part appearances followed as les Lionceaux struggled in the early weeks of the season. Then Hervé Renard was appointed manager and, as the season progressed, Prcic became an increasingly influential member of the team, as Renard came to see him as the playmaker with the potential to save the club’s Ligue 1 status. In the end the team fell just short, but Prcic ended the season with 29 Ligue 1 appearances, 20 of them as starter – an impressive statistic for a rookie and a testament to his immediate importance. His form

also earned him his full Bosnia-Herzegovina debut in September 2014.

At the end of the season, Renard sang Prcic’s praises, saying that, despite the relegation, Prcic deserved to stay in Ligue 1 because of his above-average technical ability. Several foreign clubs showed interest in the young midfielder, including PSV, Newcastle and a handful of Bundesliga teams, but in the end Rennes came out on top, signing Prcic on a four-year contract for a reported fee of €1 million.

On his arrival, Prcic spoke a good game, saying that “everything is in place here for me to progress and develop. The competition

helps people perform above themselves”. Things started excellently, as Prcic began the second match of the season, at home to Evian, and was one of the best players on the pitch, delivering two corners that led directly to goals, as Rennes won 6-2.

Rennes fans liked what they saw and were keen to see more of the tall, lean midfielder, who impressed with his excellent reading of the game, a gossamer-soft first touch, great set-piece delivery and a fantastic eye for a long pass, with the ability to complete it.

However, things have not progressed too smoothly since that match, as Prcic has struggled to maintain that form, in part due to coach Philippe Montanier’s constant tinkering with his team. Although his height makes him effective in the air, he is not the best of tacklers and, perhaps with that in mind, Montanier has played him a lot more in home matches, where the onus is on the team to attack rather than defend. After last year’s performances, Prcic is a marked man and the general feeling is that he needs to bulk up to avoid being bullied off the ball so easily. At the same time, however, perhaps he needs to be freed from the midfield shovelwork and allowed to express himself further up the pitch.

Renard spotted other areas where there may be room for improvement: “he didn’t do enough when he lost the ball…He needs to be more effective because he can score lots of goals and have a great career.”

There is no doubt that Prcic has the range of skills to make it. Now the onus is on him to muscle up, become more decisive and take the next step forward. He could become a reliable performer or he could become a frustratingly ephemeral talent. Either way, it should be beautiful to watch.

Club: stade rennais

Position: midfield

DOB: 20.11.93

Nat: french

capped: bosnia-h

sanjinprcic

guerreThe 2014/15 campaign has been something of an annus mirabilis for Portuguese youngster Raphael Guerreiro. After taking to Ligue 1 like the proverbial duck to water in his first season with Lorient, the 21-year-old has gone from strength to strength since the start of the season.

Legendary Lorient boss Christian Gourcuff saw enormous promise in Guerreiro, and tempted him through the promise of top flight football at le Moustoir into a move from Caen where he had progressed through the ranks to become an important first-team player. Those who saw Guerreiro in his early days with Lorient saw a player with huge potential but who was perhaps a little rough around the edges. The departure of Gourcuff and promotion of Sylvain Ripoll may have had a slightly unsettling effect on the club, but Guerreiro has thrived under the change.

Ripoll has looked to utilise Guerreiro’s natural attacking talent in a more potent manner by playing him in increasingly advanced positions. What started out as a progression from left-back to wing-back/midfield has seen the player develop further into a fully-fledged left-winger. This has allowed Lorient to profit hugely from Guerreiro’s strengths. He possesses fantastic speed, close control and an eye for a pass which has seen him transformed into one of Ligue 1’s most dangerous wide players. His four assists so far in the 2014/15 campaign go a long way to give evidence of this.

The big addition to his game this season has been goals. Prior to the 2014/15 campaign he had one solitary league goal to his name; by March 2015 he had already scored seven times. His goals vary enormously from two yard tap-ins to powerful drives from outside of the area.

The pick of his goals came against Reims where he cut in from the right - on a brief stint on the opposite flank - to curl a brilliant effort into the top corner.

Not bad for a player who is still expected to drop back into defence at a moment’s notice. On the subject of his defensive duties, it is impressive to see that despite gaining so much

glory from his times further up the pitch, he hasn’t lost any of the traditional attributes that initially got him the move to Ligue 1. His pace comes into its own when defending and allows him to quickly recover should he ever find himself out of position, not that it happens regularly. He has tactical nous as well as a great ability to read the game and identify threats before they emerge. He is also unafraid to get stuck in and despite an innocent face, has a steely core that makes him tough in the tackle.

All these qualities and more have led to him appearing on the radar of some of Europe’s bigger teams with Arsenal consistently linked. Whilst a move like this will eventually happen, it may be that in the short-term he will continue to impress for Lorient. Unfortunately, if les Merlus dropped into Ligue 2 at the end of the 2014/15 season, that move will naturally happen sooner rather than later.

It was pleasing to see Guerreiro’s fantastic form rewarded with an international call up. After making a handful of appearances for the Portuguese under-21 side, French-born Guerreiro was called up to the senior side in November 2014. He was instantly drafted into the starting eleven and made his full debut in a win over Armenia before going on to score in his second outing, getting the winner in a friendly against Argentina. He looks set to be part of the national set up for a long time to come.

A player who can make the left side his own against any team, Guerreiro has gone a long way to prove his baby-faced looks hide a talent that will go far.

Club: fc lorient

Position: midfield

DOB: 22.11.93

Nat: french

Capped: Portugal

raphaelguerreiro

toureWhat would happen if you mixed some genes from both the current European and African champions and hot-housed it in a country famed for its youth development? Bordeaux forward Thomas Touré, born in France to an Ivorian father and a Spanish mother, is providing us with an answer. Thus far the results are encouraging.

Touré arrived from Cannes in 2010 and did so well with Bordeaux’s CFA side that his name was already familiar to Willy Sagnol, who intended to give Touré plenty of playing time, as soon as he arrived in Aquitaine. Stroke of fortune number one: be in the coach’s good books before he has even met you. Number two: see one of your direct rivals for a starting spot succumb to a long-term injury just as the season starts. Henri Saivet, with whom Touré shares more than the odd similarity, and who finally broke into the first XI in 2013/14, suffered a knee injury that ruled him out until December. As well as getting lucky, you also need to deliver when that chance falls your way. Touré did, with a series of excellent performances showing off his brilliantly quick feet and smart link-up play. Few players have opened their scoring accounts in professional football the way Touré did. Deep into stoppage time at the Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux were drawing 1-1 with Rennes. Though visibly exhausted by a tough game, Touré found space by the edge of the box, and when a Cheick Diabaté pass came his way, he curled a gorgeous first time effort into the top corner.

Scouts from Europe’s bigger leagues needed just a few glances to realise there was something a bit special about Touré, and he has already been linked to several Bundesliga clubs. He certainly has the raw attributes to be an asset on the other side of the Rhine.

One thing that stands out when watching Touré is how, at least at this stage in his development, he seems almost designed to excel on the counter-attack. Not only is he very quick and a proficient technician, but he also has excellent awareness of the defenders around him and consequently is adept at using his body to turn and accelerate into space.

His high foul count and growing collection of yellow cards proves Touré still needs to work on the defensive side of his game, but that in itself shows that he is at least making an effort in the defensive phase. He is in many ways the archetypal modern footballer, right down to the busy and frequently hilarious second life he leads on twitter as @Treezy_Toms. Touré’s Christmas present from Bordeaux was an improved contract until 2019, but since the turn of the year his minutes have dried up somewhat. Partly this is due to Bordeaux losing their early-season spark, possibly from Sagnol’s subsequent attempts to mix things up by introducing a diamond midfield. For Touré, he is still most effective on the wing where he can bring his speed and dribbling into play; this means he now must content himself with occasional substitute appearances. Sagnol has not forgotten him, and in Bordeaux’s push for European football both this season and beyond, he will definitely play a vital role. He will no doubt have a contribution to make internationally too, although it remains to be seen who for. Touré had just two league starts to his name when Hervé Renard added him to the Ivory Coast’s national squad, an invitation Touré declined, stating that while it would be an honour for him to represent the land of his father, he was not yet ready to pick between Ivory Coast and France. Spain do not seem to be part of the equation, but if Touré keeps improving at the current rate it would not be a surprise to see them start making enquiries.

Club: girondins de bordeaux

Position: forward

DOB: 27.12.93

Nat: french

uncapped

thomastoure

bourigeThe return of Lens to Ligue 1 this season has been difficult for the club and its fans. A move to a temporary home in Amiens, fans causing trouble, and the financial problems leading to a transfer embargo have more often than not overshadowed events on the pitch. However, les Sang et Or’s current problems may prove to have long-term benefits, as it has allowed a nucleus of promising youngsters to gain early experience of top-level football. One such player is Benjamin Bourigeaud.

Born up the road from Lens in Calais, Bourigeaud has spent all his life in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. After being spotted by playing for local Calais teams, he joined the Lens set-up at only 10 years old. Bourigeaud played his way through the club’s various age groups, before joining the professional squad for pre-season training for the 2013/14 Ligue 2 campaign.

His debut came in November 2013, as coach Antoine Kombouaré introduced him for the second half of a fixture at Niort. Undaunted by his first experience of professional football, Bourigeaud gave a fantastic cameo display and a 45-minute showcase of all of his strongest virtues as he helped Lens to battle back from 2-0 down for a draw.

Throwing himself into tackles, dropping back to receive the ball and begin attacks, either by marauding forward himself or distributing to a team-mate, shooting powerfully from distance, sprinting back to head off potential breaks at the pass, taking set-pieces and

pinging long cross-field balls to team-mates. One such long ball from the edge of his own area began the break that led to Lens’ first goal, and his searching free kick in the last minute set up the equaliser.

His first start – and first goal – came a week later in the Coupe de France against AFC Creil, and two matches later he had signed his first professional contract, saying that “I joined Lens at 10 and have grown up with the club. So for me it’s an honour to sign by first pro contract here”.

Bourigeaud went on to play 22 matches last season, helping Lens to promotion and to the Coupe de France quarter finals (it was

his pinpoint corner that set up the winner as Lens shocked Lyon 2-1 in the Round of 16). Unsurprisingly, international recognition followed, as he was named in the France under-20 squad for the Toulon tournament last summer, playing two matches.

Despite the step up in quality and the team’s struggles, Bourigeaud has retained his place in the Lens team, appearing in 20 Ligue 1 matches and starting half of them; although only completing the full 90 minutes once, suggesting both that Lens are wary of burning him out, and that he must work on pacing himself and preserving energy in matches. He has been played as a right winger, a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder, but is clearly at his best in the central midfield role, using his energy, speed and stamina to stand out as a box-to-box midfielder. His first goal of the season, against Toulouse, highlighted his abilities, as he showed his reading of the game to intercept an opponent’s pass deep inside his own half, sprinted most of the length of the field, laid the ball off and remained on hand to pounce on the loose ball in the area.

Arguably Bourigeaud’s highlight so far, however, was his man of the match performance against Metz, in which he ran the show, hitting the bar once, setting up the team’s first with an excellent cross and then sealing the points by scoring with a towering header.

Bourigeaud is proud of his roots, always thanking his parents, complimenting the Lens fans in interviews, and saying “I try to represent my region the best I can, and to sweat blood for the shirt”. If he continues to progress, it will not be long before some big clubs will be clamouring to prise him away from his Nord-Pas-de-Calais home.

Club: rc lens

Position: midfield

DOB: 14.01.94

Nat: french

capped: France u20

benjaminbourigeaud

statistile50the statistics

CLUB representation

positions

france vs rest of the world

nationalities

ASM - 6

OM - 5

OGCN - 4

OL - 4

PSG - 4

FCN - 3

GDB - 3

LOSC - 3

RCL - 3

ASN - 2

FCL - 2

SRFC - 2

ASSE - 1

LBC - 1

ESTAC - 1

FCM - 1

MHSC - 1

SCB - 1

SDR - 1

SMC - 1

TFC - 1

the classof 2014

le 50Yannick Ferreira Carrasco

Jordan Ferri

Jean-Philippe Gbamin

Raphael Guerreiro

Cedric Hountondji

Adrien Hunou

Gianelli Imbula

Geoffrey Kondogbia

Layvin Kurzawa

Mario Lemina

Jeff Louis

Marquinhos

Anthony Martial

Vincent Aboubakar

Alphonse Areola

Serge Aurier

Tiemoue Bakayoko

Yassine Benzia

Andre Biyogo-Poko

Alexy Bosetti

Zacharie Boucher

Lucas Digne

Abdoulaye Doucoure

Valentin Eysseric

Fabinho

Adrien Rabiot

Lindsay Rose

Youssouf Sabaly

Morgan Sanson

Uros Spajic

Florian Tardieu

Florian Thauvin

Birama Toure

Samuel Umtiti

Jordan Veretout

Marco Verratti

Kurt Zouma

Neal Maupay

Nampalys Mendy

Benjamin Mendy

Lucas Moura

Axel Ngando

Yeni NGbakoto

MBaye Niang

Paul-Georges Ntep

Lucas Ocampos

Hervin Ongenda

Divock Origi

Maxime Poundje

Gregoire Puelplayer has moved club since list was released

hountonIt’s been a slightly contradictory 12 months for 21-year-old centre back Cedric Hountondji. A player of undoubted raw potential, the start of 2014 saw him as a member of the Rennes first team, frequently playing and providing more than adequate cover when the likes of Sylvain Armand, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik and John Boye were unavailable. With the summer departures of the latter two, it seemed Hountondji would get his chance to find a more permanent place in the starting line up.

He must have been disappointed then to see an influx of centre-backs with Edson Mexer, Fallou Diagne and Gjoko Zajkov all coming in to compete with the youngster. As Rennes coach Philippe Montanier elected to go with Mexer and Armand as his first choice and Diagne as cover, Hountondji had a decision to make.

It was therefore pleasing to see him join Ligue 2 Chateauroux on loan for the 2014/15 season. With that came a chance for him to develop as a player with consistent first team football. No-one can deny he has had plenty to experience as la Berri have suffered a dreadful campaign.

Hountondji however has continued to make strides as he finds his feet in the world of week-in, week-out first team football. In a team playing so badly, he has at times shone and despite an occasional blip, has continued to show that he has a lot still to offer Rennes.

His strengths lie in the cornerstone of every good centre-back. At 6ft 5in, he is naturally good in the air and surprisingly comfortable with the ball at his feet. He carries with him an elegant, almost insouciant, attitude that at times can sometimes make him appear too casual.

However, he has plenty of pace about him, pace that at times has been much needed when playing in a defence that blends inexperience with ageing legs at Chateauroux. Hountondji has definitely developed as a player; playing alongside a French football stalwart as he does with Laurent Bonnart has only helped him to discover some of the nuances of the game that come with experience.

Areas that have improved significantly since joining Chateauroux have been his physicality and tackling. When playing for Rennes he appeared a bit gangly at times, all legs and not enough strength as he found himself muscled off the ball by opposing players. Since dropping down to Ligue 2 and playing every week, he has bulked up slightly which has made him more of an intimidating presence who can hold his own against the more physical attackers.

He still has much to learn, especially when it comes to positioning: his youthful naivety can sometimes get the better of him as he leaves gaps for the opposition to exploit. With so much work to do in trying to keep a poor side afloat, you could easily forgive him the occasional lapse in concentration. During these still relatively formative years, playing alongside the likes of Bonnart and Armand can only benefit Hountondji in the long run. The short-term gains have certainly seen the player mature as he seeks to improve the areas of his game that are sometimes lacking.

All in all it has been a tough but hugely rewarding season for Hountondji which has seen him have to contend with everything regular professional football has to offer. He may not have passed every test with flying colours but he has certainly done enough to warrant mention as one of France’s bright centre-back hopes and beyond that, a chance to stake his claim as a first choice for Rennes. With Armand approaching the twilight of his career and none of the other Rennes centre-backs sufficiently stepping up, Hountondji will have identified that it’s a case of first team football with his parent club or finding an opportunity elsewhere.

Club: chateauroux

Position: defence

DOB: 19.01.94

Nat: french

capped: france u21

cedrichountondji

conteThe inability of Paris Saint-Germain to successfully bring through young players into their first team has been a source of criticism for the Parc des Princes side, and the success that Antoine Conte has enjoyed since departing the capital should only be seen as further ammunition in this debate. Conte signed for the Parisian outfit as a 13-year-old in 2007 and ultimately made his debut for his hometown club as a teenager when he came off the bench to replace Mamadou Sakho. “My heart went boom when I had my first training session with the pros,” he admitted. “Then I was really happy when Carlo Ancelotti put me on the bench. But in Toulouse, I did not understand right away what was happening to me. It was only after the game I took the measure of the fabulous 15 minutes I had spent on the pitch.” This emotional debut was to be the only opportunity that Conte had to taste competitive league football with PSG. “He is a worker, he has good technique and he has been able to erase the impatience from his game, but he has huge rivals for his position,” revealed an unnamed agent close to the club in February 2013. It was to prove a prophetic statement. Just as fellow Parisien Mamadou Sakho, described as a ‘big brother’ to Conte, was ultimately forced out due to the competition emanating from the likes of Thiago Silva and Alex, so too would space be too tight for his prodigy.

For a promising young player, who had clearly relished moments such as going to Valencia in the Champions League in a squad that contained David Beckham, this meant taking a step backwards. Indeed, he would later confess that even being involved in a relatively minor capacity was seen as a “bonus”. Reims offered him the opportunity of regular Ligue 1 football via a loan deal in 2013, and after impressing during that campaign, he would be permanently relocated to the Champagne region when David Luiz arrived at Parc des Princes a year later. It has proven to be a ‘step back’ that has allowed Conte to unlock the potential of his game. A regular starter this season under

Jean-Luc Vasseur, he continues to feature regularly in the France national set up, with which he has graduated to the under-21s, having played at every level since under-17. He admitted when he signed for the club that he required more pitch time in order to grow and reach his potential, and at the Stade Auguste Delaune he has earned just that. While his natural position is to be found in the heart of the defence, Conte’s mobility and athleticism have also allowed him to be used in a right-back role at times, where he has performed in an equally accomplished manner. Unfortunately for the 21-year-old, his opportunities at international level for France may be restricted. Just as he found his path blocked in the early years of his club career, he is breaking through at a time in which Les Bleus are particularly strong in his favoured role. Raphael Varane, Aymeric Laporte and Kurt Zouma are just some of the centre-backs who have got a jump on him in Didier Deschamps’ thinking. It could be at right-back that Conte builds an international career with France.

He excelled recently against England in this position on his debut for Les Espoirs, and with France struggling to develop right-sided full-backs, there may be an opportunity to grasp. Though his future is bright, it would be somewhat surprising if he were to ascend to such heights for Les Bleus. Representing Guinea remains an international possibility due to his heritage, however. Conte has shown himself to be a young player not scared to take big decisions to enhance his career, and this maturity has allowed him to grow into an established Ligue 1 player. Now his challenge is to make a move back up the ladder.

Club: stade de reims

Position: defence

DOB: 29.01.94

Nat: french

Capped: france u21

antoineconte

philippsThe second half of this Ligue 1 season has been nightmarish for fans of FC Metz. However, one of the few bright sparks amid the doom and gloom of 2015 has been the emergence of les Grenats’ young Luxembourger, Chris Philipps.

Born just over the French border in Wiltz, around 100 kilometres from Metz, Philipps was spotted by the club from the Moselle at an early age: in 2007 – the same year that the club’s last Luxembourger, Miralem Pjanic, made his professional debut – the 13-year-old Philipps represented the national team for his age group in friendlies against Metz. The scouts were impressed and, after a couple of tournaments for the Metz youth team, he was asked to join the club’s academy.

Philipps worked his way through the youth ranks at Metz and signed his first professional contract in March 2013. Two months later he made his professional debut, at the end of the Messins’ year of purgatory in the National, and appeared a handful more times during last season’s Ligue 2-winning campaign.

Philipps retained his place on the bench at the beginning of this season, but the arrival of Florent Malouda relegated him to the reserves. He kept his head down and, as Metz were hit by loss of form, injuries and CAN representation, Cartier called the youngster up for a daunting debut at Lyon. Despite the 2-0 defeat, Philipps impressed and started six of the following seven matches.

Although brought up as a central defender, Philipps’ appearances this season have all been as a defensive midfielder. In terms of style, and of players for him to aspire to, it is hard to look past Maxime Gonalons or Jeremy Toulalan. Philipps is a sentinel – far more romantic a description than Cantona’s “water carrier”.

He shows little interest in going forward; his job is to protect his defence, to win the ball and to give it to a team-mate. An excellent tackler – still liable to fly in occasionally but that can be put down to youthful exuberance – Philipps uses his height and strength to win the ball on the ground or in the air. His technical ability is better than the average defensive midfielder, allowing

him to protect the ball and to begin counter-attacks, looking to move the ball vertically, not necessarily the safe horizontal pass. “He is serious, disciplined and intelligent,” commented Cartier after his impressive performance in a blizzard against Nice. He’s pretty hard too – Philipps was the only player in that match who braved short sleeves!

Although some might joke that the competition has not been fierce, Philipps has comfortably been one of Metz’s best players since breaking into the team. And it is his international experience that has helped him to settle so quickly. Due to the relative lack of resources in Luxembourg, Philipps is one of those rare examples of a footballer who has had more opportunities to play at the highest level for his country than for his club. Already part of the under-17 team at the age of 14, he played his way through the age groups and made his full debut at 17, featuring in a rare win for the Duchy, 2-1 over Macedonia. Philipps now has 21 caps, and has faced up to some of Europe’s powerhouses, playing in defence against Spain, and in midfield in an impressive 1-1 draw with Italy. That experience has helped him to approach his Ligue 1 introduction, particularly in difficult circumstances for his club, with calmness and maturity.

Philipps has had a long wait to break into the first team, and rumours of a loan move, perhaps to Germany, have circulated at times. But the player, who has said that it is a dream come true to wear the Metz colours, has always been loyal: “this club has trained me, has given me so much. If I get the chance to give something back, I’ll fight till the end for them.”

Metz have some tough months ahead of them, but with Chris Philipps at the vanguard, they are in safe, reliable hands.

Club: fc metz

Position: midfield

DOB: 08.03.94

Nat: luxembourgian

capped: luxembourg

chrisphilipps

amaviEvery summer the southern town of Toulon hosts one of football’s most respected youth tournaments. As a kid, Jordan Amavi would have had the opportunity to watch the likes of James Rodriguez and Loic Remy on his doorstep. Having so many great young players gracing his hometown has acted like a contagious bug. Last summer the defender was part of France’s under-20 squad that reached the final of the tournament, which came as no surprise to the people who shaped his career.

From the age of seven until he was 16, Amavi played for local side Sporting Toulon, where one of his coaches identified him as a future France international, but, he says, “no one believed me.” Now, as an under-21 international and one of the best left-backs in Ligue 1, the 21-year-old is on the verge of proving his coach right.

OGC Nice have recently made a habit of developing excellent young left-backs under the watch of Claude Puel. Timothee Kolodziejczak joined from Lyon and quickly showed his ability to terrify defences and provide Nice with stability at the back. It looked like a strange decision when Les Aiglons decided to sell the 22-year-old to Sevilla in the summer of 2014.

Puel knew exactly what he was doing, however. Amavi made his debut for the club at the start of the previous season, against Lyon in the opening weekend. Deputising for Kolodziejczak, the apprentice would make just nine starts, but regularly came off the bench

This season, Amavi has been thrust into the starting line-up, and hasn’t looked back once. So far in 2014/15 he has only missed eight minutes of action and will go on to pass the 3,000-minute mark by the end of the campaign. Not only have his performances seen him become a mainstay of Puel’s defence, but he has also quickly gained a reputation as one of the best left-backs in France.

One can see from his style of play that his early days were spent as a winger. Amavi still has that desire to get forward and push the opposition defender back, making overlapping runs, or taking on his man to create space for the forwards.

Although Amavi is blessed with a fantastic left foot, the reason he has yet to record an assist this season is more down to the lack of a dominant forward leading Nice’s front-line. Not limited to playing wide, he is clearly confident in his ability to come inside on to his weaker right foot and try his luck to wrong-foot the opposition defence.

For all the praise given to Amavi when he is on the ball, his defensive displays this season have been just as impressive. Against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome, Nice may have lost 4-0, but up against Florian Thauvin, Amavi was excellent. He used his strength to fight off the winger and easily matched his pace. Thauvin ended the game with a goal and an assist, but it would have been harsh to point the finger of blame towards Amavi.

Overall, Thauvin struggled due to Amavi’s excellence. The young defender has made more interceptions than anyone else in the league this season, and on that night he nearly tripled his figures against the league average. It is too simplistic to look at the result and declare it a poor performance. He had to cover through the centre, read Marseille attacks and make sure the former Bastia man didn’t have a good night.

Amavi has the full spectrum of characteristics that you need to succeed as a modern-day full-back. He is dangerous in the air – scoring three headers this season – has pace, strength and a great awareness of what is happening around him. He hasn’t let his success get the better of him, however, saying “my family and my friends would soon bring me back down to earth” if he acted beyond his station.Contracted until 2017, it is unlikely that Puel will let him follow the same path as Kolodziejczak. Amavi is the future of the club, and soon he will be pushing to become the future of the national team too.

Club: ogc nice

Position: defence

DOB: 09.03.94

Nat: french

Capped: france u21

jordanamavi

nangisLenny Nangis has only just turned 21, but is in his fourth full season on the wing with Caen. With the Normand club he has experienced relegation from Ligue 1 in 2011/12, a fourth-place finish in Ligue 2 in 2012/13, and then the joy of promotion by going one better in 2013/14. To add to the disappointment of missing out on promotion in 2012/13, he suffered initially from a managerial change as Patrice Garande replaced Franck Dumas – and his habit of giving young players a break. Nangis persevered, playing infrequently until the second half of the promotion season, when he became ever-present.

Throughout this period, he was working his way up through the French youth system, playing at every level from under-16 to the under-20s, with two goals in ten (friendly) appearances for les Bleuets, after a one-in-two record at under-16 and -17 level.

One match into 2015, with Caen sitting bottom of the league, things were not looking very promising. From then on, however, Caen put together a quite astonishing run to leave them top of the form table, putting four past Reims, Rennes and Lens, and coming from 2-0 down against nine-man PSG at the Parc des Princes to draw, and from 2-0 down against Marseille at the Velodrome to win.

Nangis missed the PSG match through suspension, and came off injured within half an hour against Marseille, but his contribution in the other, less flashy, results as they got to that point cannot be underestimated. Caen are a team who share the goals around, with no

stand-out goalscorer – but a habit of scoring stand-out goals. Nangis scored four goals in his first three seasons combined, a tally which this season he matched in January.

His strikes are a pleasing mix of styles: a rapid charge from the right to the centre against Toulouse, shooting from just inside the area; a header against Lorient having dashed in from the right; a great solo run up the left against Nice to shoot from outside the area; and another charge up the left against Rennes, finishing from a very tight angle after leaving the keeper on the ground.

He can score all sorts, therefore – and from either wing. He has also provided four assists in all competitions, compared to one

last season, showing how he has made the step up to the higher level. His versatility, speed, and ability to dribble past multiple defenders, is a definite plus-point. This is the good side of the chaos that he can wreak – on the opposition.

On the other side of the equation, one concern might be his discipline: against Bordeaux he was sent off after only half an hour for trying to remove Wahbi Khazri’s knee, in the match that ended a seven-game unbeaten streak. That meant that he was unavailable – again – against Lorient in Week 29, where they lost 2-1.

Nangis suits Caen, as the team’s style is also slightly chaotic: with some of the lowest possession figures in the league, and an iffy pass completion rate, their strength is on the break. The bulk of their attacks come from the wings, where he could be stationed either side, and they are extremely strong from set pieces, and win a lot of aerial balls. The multi-tasking winger with the quick feet and decent aerial ability, despite his height, is able to react to opportunities as they present themselves. If Caen do manage to stay up this season – and it’s looking promising – Lenny Nangis will be a big part of the reason why.

Club: sm caen

Position: midfield

DOB: 24.03.94

Nat: french

capped: france u21

lennynangis

marquinIt has been a difficult second season for Laurent Blanc and defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, with Le President’s men struggling to recapture last campaign’s domi-nant form. However, despite plenty of frustration at the Parc des Princes, there have been a few success stories and young defender Marquinhos is definitely one of them. The Brazilian has developed well in the past year and is now more established in the French capital.

On the fringes of Blanc’s starting XI following his big-money arrival from Roma in the sum-mer of 2013, Marquinhos managed 17 league starts, scoring twice, and another six starts in the Champions League, bagging three goals, including on his debut for the club, against Olympiakos away. This season he is well on course to beat that appearance record, although so far only has one goal to his name.

The South American started the season as one of Blanc’s first-choice central defenders, following fellow Brazilian and team captain Thiago Silva’s injury, sustained in a questiona-bly-scheduled friendly against Napoli in August with the domestic season already underway.

Marquinhos and summer signing David Luiz formed a complementary central defensive partnership and the pair helped PSG up until October, when the former got injured. Up until then, the Selecao starlet was arguably les Parisiens’ player of the season.

Highlighting Marquinhos’ superb form in the early part of the campaign was the heroic last-

ditch block he made during PSG’s 3-2 Champions League group stage win over Barcelona to deny Jordi Alba a certain goal. The defender’s celebration of that decisive interception has become the first of no doubt many iconic images of the talented young-ster.

The return of Silva in October was coincidentally timed with Marquinhos missing a month through injury, and the captain’s protégé has struggled to make his return to the centre of the de-fence. Luiz and the skipper have largely formed Blanc’s defensive pairing of choice, leaving the former Roma man to make do with deputising at right-back.

Since the start of 2015, Marquinhos has seen as much action in his secondary position as he has in the middle of the back four. Blanc, desperate to keep hold of one of his most talent-ed players despite being unable to guarantee him his favoured role, opted to play him on the right of the defence with Gregory van der Wiel struggling to rediscover his form of last season. The results were impressive. At the start of the year, PSG emerged unscathed from a tough run of games with largely positive results and clean sheets. It quickly became clear that even Marquinhos out of position was better for the balance of the defence than Van der Wiel and since then, the Brazilian has been difficult to dislodge from that position.

PSG had to fend off interest in their talented number five in January after reports emerged that he was unhappy to simply be third choice. Blanc gave the defender his chance and he took it, impressing to the point that he penned an improved contract before the end of the season. At least for now, this should limit, but not stop, the rumours of his departure.

“Marquinhos has a spirit and a special mentality,” Blanc told a press conference earlier this year. “We have done everything to keep him and we will do everything possible to extend his contract. It is good that, as a player, he can operate in different roles, and let’s not forget he is just 20 years old,” before adding “he and Adrien Rabiot represent the future of PSG.”

That last part is important. The capital club have fought hard this season to keep both Rabi-ot and Marquinhos and the latter, in particular, has proved that he is not just a star talent for the future, but also for now. The Brazilian’s goalscoring exploits might have quietened down from last season, but he is an old head on young shoulders and that is of greater val-ue to both Blanc and PSG.

The jury was out on Marquinhos this time last year, but now he has well and truly justified his price tag and status as one of the world’s best up and coming defenders.

Club: paris saint-germain

Position: defence

DOB: 14.05.94

Nat: brazilian

Capped: brazil

marquinhos

nardiFrance has always had a fair number of quality goalkeepers, but in recent years there has been an explosion in the quantity of potential world-class gardiens emerging from French youth sides into the league system. Alongside the likes of Alphonse Aréola and Zacharie Boucher, one can now add AS Nancy-Lorraine’s Paul Nardi. The loss of form suffered by Nancy’s senior goalkeepers around the team’s relegation in 2013 propelled Nardi into the first XI much earlier than expected, and right from the start he excelled. Watching Nardi can, on occasion, be a lesson in the outer limits of human athleticism. His explosiveness is startling, and it gives him two qualities that are particularly useful in an age of high defensive lines, in which goalkeepers need to patrol large areas and deal with one-on-ones regularly: firstly, there are few as quick as Nardi when coming off his line, whether for crosses or through balls; secondly, he has extraordinary reactions and abilities as a shot stopper. At the end of the 2013/14 season, his first in professional football, he was nominated for the award for best Ligue 2 goalkeeper, losing out to Alphonse Aréola. He also helped France’s under-20 side to the final of the prestigious Toulon Tournament where the best goalkeeper prize did go his way. More importantly he had drawn the attention of Monaco who signed him for €2.5m, although he would remain with Nancy this season to continue his development there.

Monaco’s long term plan will be for him to compete with and probably eventually replace Danijel Subašić, their Croatian international. Given how much the latter has improved this season, that will not be an easy task.

Moreover, how Nardi deals with having to compete with a more senior, established pro at a new club will tell us a lot about his maturity and whether he has the mental attributes required to be an excellent goalkeeper. One can never predict perfectly how a player with no experience of being second choice and who has only ever played for one club will adapt to different circumstances.

If he retains the fearlessness that so characterises much of his play with Nancy, that transition should be a little more straightforward. There are other aspects of his play which, by contrast, he will have to work on. Many of his most impressive saves could have been made easier by modifying his starting position, and his decision-making and handling also require improvement. On more than one occasion this season he has caused problems for himself by not being in the correct place when a cross comes in, then compounding the error by incorrectly choosing to come out and then spilling the ball when he does get his hands on it. There are comparisons to be made between Nardi and Ali Ahamada, and les Chardons’ youngster shares the same fearlessness and athleticism as the Toulouse stopper, but in order to maximise his potential he will need to acquire the judiciousness that has so far escaped Ahamada. Nardi will be forgiven the occasional lapse at Nancy given he’s been at the club since he was 12 years old and is only starting his career, but at a team who expect – and financially need – to be regulars in the Champions League, no such patience will be afforded to him. Hopefully these new challenges and the pressure he will be under could bring out the best in him. If it does, then it won’t be long before Nardi is giving the national team coach a headache as to who he picks as France’s next No. 1 goalkeeper.

Club: as nancy

Position: goalkeeper

DOB: 18.05.94

Nat: french

capped: france u21

paulnardi

lavigneThe scene was set for the grand arrival of Leonardo Jardim at Monaco, yet their season opener would be wrecked by the contribution of hitherto unknown youngster Valentin Lavigne. Last term’s Ligue 1 runners-up had come back from Ricardo Carvalho’s dismissal to equalise with a Radamel Falcao penalty 12 minutes from time and were committing men forward in an almost foolhardy manner to try to snatch the win. Three minutes from time, little Lorient stunned them when a slack pass from Andrea Raggi led to the debutant running half the length of the pitch to strike. It was quite an introduction to top-level football for a young man who had only just turned 20. A few weeks later, he would bag a double in the Breton derby at home to Guingamp, securing his place in the plans of head coach Sylvain Ripoll. His first season with the pros, though, has been largely spent integrating into the team. Lorient-born Lavigne made his first six appearances as a substitute, despite his profound impact from the bench. However, just as it seemed he had forced his way to a starting berth, he sustained ligament damage in his left knee that kept him sidelined for two months.

Since his return, his progress has been further checked by hip issues that have prevented him making the impact upon this campaign that he was capable of. Nevertheless, Lorient were sufficiently satisfied with what their youth academy product had provided to offer him a two-year contract extension in March, tying him to the Bretons until 2019. “This extension shows that the club has full confidence in him,” sporting director Christophe Le Roux confirmed. “He is a worker and an ambitious boy, and those are two qualities that we appreciate at Lorient.” To boil the youngster’s game down to two rather simplistic

attributes is, however, somewhat unfair. It is fitting of the humble and industrious ethic of Lorient to seek improvement in their players all the time. Given that Lavigne is a ‘pure’ product of the Bretons’ system, it should be little surprise that he has been built perfectly to integrate with their style. A lithe wide player full of panache and vigour, he has already shown himself to be technically accomplished and clever in terms of his movement. “He’s a boy we trust, he does not ask questions,” Ripoll said after a stunning cameo had seen the winger score two and set up another against Guingamp. From what little Ligue 1 has seen of Lavigne thus far, assurance is certainly not a problem in his attacking game. Far more experienced players have choked in positions from which he has thrived, and that has been essential given the holes in the attack left by the sales of Vincent Aboubakar, Jeremie Aliadiere and Kevin Monnet-Paquet last summer. Such departures are inevitable in Lorient’s model, but while in past years they have often looked to secure undervalued players from elsewhere in France, Lavigne and academy cohort Yoann Wachter offered additional reinforcement from within. What promised to be such an exciting entrance to the Ligue 1 stage has ultimately proven to be something of a disappointment for Lavigne, whose injury problems have disrupted his debut campaign. However, this archetypal Lorient player is well poised to make a positive impression in the coming seasons, during which he is expected to develop into the kind of marketable talent that the Bretons have thrived in nurturing under the shrewd ownership of Loic Fery. A dynamic talent with movement and composure outside the normal range for a player so young, it is difficult to imagine the local lad failing to come good at his hometown club.

Club: FC lorient

Position: midfield

DOB: 04.06.94

Nat: french

uncapped

valentinlavigne

ocamposLucas Ocampos is a young man on a mission. A man keen to make up for lost time and to kick-start his career. After a surprise move to rivals Olympique de Marseille in January 2015, Ocampos was keen to blot out an unsatisfactory first half of the season at Monaco, which was so underwhelming that the principality club were willing to lend to a direct rival. Keen to show his parent club what they’re missing, Ocampos jumped at the chance to represent OM, with compatriot Marcelo Bielsa at the helm.

The reason being that Ocampos is a player dependent on support. Support from the fans, from the coach, and from his team-mates. Just two years after arriving in the Principality as a sheepish 18-year-old in a big money transfer to a side in the second division, Ocampos was struggling for recognition as he began to shape his career.

So, when new Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim opted to drop him after a poor first three games of the season (in which the Monegasques had lost twice, including a 4-1 thumping at Bordeaux), it didn’t take long for the Portuguese trainer to dispose of the winger in his desire to impose his image on the team. Indeed, Ocampos started just twice more in Ligue 1 for the club before his move down the coastline.

Ocampos’ inability to convert his potential into something more solid was proving puzzling. Only seven Ligue 1 goals in 58 games isn’t something to be shouting from the rooftops about, but one thing one can credit the Argentine for is that he is not willing to remain in

the doldrums. Instead, the move to Marseille represented a chance not only to earn game time, but also to transform his playing style and methods.

The transfer was puzzling not just due to the Monaco rivalry, but also because it was a move to a team which already has a significant number of wingers. This raised eyebrows as it left Ocampos to vie for a midfield spot alongside Andre Ayew, with Romain Alessandrini, Florian Thauvin and Abdelaziz Barrada all in the mix.

In the short time that has elapsed since, it appears he has made the right decision. Ocampos’ arrival coincided with OM’s

reinvigoration, with the 20-year-old already adding to their title challenge. President Vincent Labrune stated upon the winger’s arrival that he regards Ocampos as “a major talent”, with off-the-record sources stating that coach Bielsa had long requested the player. Given the management pair’s strained working relations, Ocampos was seen as a concession to the coach, but one that has crucially paid off.

Ocampos’ playing style is not too dissimilar to that of his new team-mate Florian Thauvin. Blessed with a fair amount of pace, and intense dribbling ability, Ocampos also often suffers from lapses in judgement, though that – to date – has not been apparent at Marseille. His contributions have already seen him rescue a point on his debut for OM, as well as a controversial goal disallowed in the grand choc against Lyon.

The move for Ocampos could turn out to be a master-stroke from Bielsa, but only if the Argentine makes a significant contribution before the end of the season and OM qualify for the Champions League.

With an automatic buy-in clause for OM set at €11m, now is the time for the Argentine to prosper in a new team, and with the support and admiration of his coach. After a less than spectacular last 12 months, the winger should now press ahead to make a distinct name for himself in French football. Helping Marseille to challenge for the title would be an early reward for his efforts, as he begins to make up for lost time.

Club: olympique de marseille

Position: forward

DOB: 11.07.94

Nationality: argentine

capped: argentina u17

lucasocampos

mendyThe Marseille left-back is without doubt one of the top young players at the south-coast club. He has come a long way since making his Le Havre debut at just 17 years old and has to be considered one of the premier young talents in French football.

Despite the fact that he has yet to celebrate his 21st birthday, and is only in his second season with OM, he has already been linked with moves away to some of the best clubs in Europe. It may be a little too soon to think about his next move, but it is a testament to his eye-catching ability.

On the physical front, Mendy is extremely impressive. It’s hard to find a single fault with him in this department, which is obviously a key aspect for any wing-back. It’s often very hard to combine great pace and strength, but he has a fantastic all-round build. He will run tirelessly on the wings, both going forward and tracking back. His match engine and work ethic is second to none and he will persist with great stamina all the way until the last minute of stoppage time.

It’s unclear whether or not Mendy would currently cope with the rigours of a more physical and demanding league. He does possess the pace and strength to match up well and it is hard to find fault in his physical attributes. However, Ligue 1 is not played at as high a pace as others and Mendy must learn to make the correct decisions at greater speed and to find the right balance between defence and attack.

However, on a technical level, understandably he’s not yet the finished article, although he has made significant improvements since he joined Marseille.

He started life as a standard out-and-out left-back, but has since become more versatile and is now equally comfortable playing left wing-back, midfielder, or even as a winger. In fact, he has shown a real willingness to work on the attacking side of his game; his passing has greatly improved and he is a menace to any defence when he is given time to whip in crosses in the final third. The France under-21 international has created a significant number of dangerous occasions and chances for Marseille this season and he is an extremely potent weapon going forward.

There is a strong possibility in the future that he becomes more a left-sided midfielder or winger, because the weaker aspects of his game are at the back. The problem is not so much ability, but more concentration. He is prone to occasional lapses which can cost the team in a really bad way. If he was in a more advanced position these lapses would hardly be looked at, but he can sometimes struggle to find a balance between attack and defence, especially if he is in one of his moods where he just seems to want to bomb forward at any opportunity.

Mendy has really enjoyed operating under the coaching of Marcelo Bielsa, who is very much an attack-minded manager. However just a little bit more discipline in his game could take him to an even higher level.

The general consensus is that his future is incredibly bright. He should become a really great player and is sure to end up at a big European club at some point in time. Whether he will ever become a truly world-class left-back remains to be seen, due to those defensive lapses. However, Gareth Bale is the perfect example of succeeding in that situation; he too began as a left-back and is now rubbing shoulders with some of football’s best players.

It must also be remembered that Mendy is still very young, despite two seasons’ worth of Ligue 1 experience, so he still has bags of time to progress. Another two years of Ligue 1 football and his prospects will be rather dizzying. For now, he has to concentrate on ironing out the weaker points of his game. He is a true young stud of the current French game and Ligue 1 looks set to enjoy his talent for a while yet.

Club: olympique de marseille

Position: defence

DOB: 17.07.94

Nat: french

capped: france u21

benjaminmendy

tolissoGoing into his first season with Olympique Lyonnais, the expectation was that Hubert Fournier would build his midfield around Gueida Fofana and Clement Grenier. However, Corentin Tolisso had a different plan, and has taken advantage of the unfortunate injuries to his teammates. The kid who spent a whole year travelling to Lyon just to play one training match every week, is now one of the first names on the team-sheet.

Tolisso is the perfect example of someone who trains hard, believes in himself and is always looking to improve from when he was just a boy looking for a break, to the France under-21 international he is today. He is a testament to the argument that if you are good enough, you are old enough. Persistence and striving to achieve his goals are paramount to his success: “I did trials, I was spotted and I came every Wednesday for a year to play in training matches, before signing with the club.”

Looking at his journey, Tolisso is not an example of being picked up early and guided through Lyon’s youth set-up. Joining Les Gones when he was 13 years old, he had to pay his dues before getting that break and one can see that the steely determination that brought him opportunities as a kid has continued through and turned the 20-year-old into an important part of Fournier’s current Lyon team.

However, this doesn’t mean that he has made it and the work can stop. Interviews with the midfielder show a player who is always looking to analyse his game, and wants to

improve with every step he takes: “I’ve scored four goals, but I’ve only delivered one assist, and that is not enough. In fact, in 25 matches, I should have scored three goals more. I want to be a decisive midfielder”.

In only his second league start, Lyon would go 1-0 down to Bordeaux during Week 28’s game at the Stade Chaban Delmas. Henri Bedimo shocked the home side by equalising in the 91st minute, but OL were not quite done. As Maxime Gonalons put in a cross from deep, Tolisso ghosted into the box, rose beautifully and guided his header past Cedric Carrasso. The boy from Tarare had announced himself to Ligue 1.

This season, Tolisso has brought great balance to Fournier’s diamond midfield. With his ability to play almost anywhere on the pitch, including spells at left- and right-back, he is the perfect example of a two-way midfielder. Defensively excellent, his positioning helps protect down the left-flank; he can also team up with Gonalons through the middle. His passing seems to improve with every minute he plays, and with his confidence flourishing, so is his ability to pick out more decisive passes going forward.

Standing just under six feet tall, he doesn’t look quick on first glance, but he is deceptively fast in making his way up and down the pitch. As he grows, he is getting stronger physically and it is helping him improve his mobility.

In his quest to improve with every game, a reputation as a utility player may do him more harm than good. Sometimes he will make a sideways pass, thinking defensively, when maybe a more clinical through ball is available. When he finds his true identity, one senses that he is going to become even more crucial to how Lyon develop as a unit. Keeping possession, pushing Lyon forward, and having the vision and read of the game to cover when someone is out of position, are just some of his excellent traits. He will only get better with time, adding scoring and assists to his list of attributes.

Modesty is one of his greatest assets. When asked what would have happened if Lyon hadn’t suffered injuries, he was very honest: “I would have played less. But I would still have done everything to earn a starting spot. And, when everyone is back, I’ll do everything I can to keep playing.” Grenier and Fofana are going to have to work even harder to win back their places, and that in itself is the greatest compliment you can give to Corentin Tolisso.

Club: olympique lyonnais

Position: midfield

DOB: 03.08.94

Nat: french

capped: france u21

corentintolisso

silvaIt wasn’t a shock when AS Monaco sold James Rodriguez to Real Madrid for around €80 million last summer. No matter the project, a bid of near double what you paid is impossible to resist. What was more surprising was that there was no marquee signing to replace him. Benfica’s Bernardo Silva almost ghosted into Leonardo Jardim’s squad without the media circus of the summer of 2013.

Silva’s success, mostly flying under the radar, has been to adapt perfectly to life in France. The talk is no longer about the departure of James, but the blossoming career of the moustachioed little midfielder.

It took a little time to settle into his new surroundings. Silva started only three of Monaco’s opening ten league games, where they picked up only 11 points, but he made an impact as les Monegasques won all three. Jardim took notice and Silva started 10 of the next 12 games - they would lose only once.

The cat was definitely out of the bag and Monaco had almost no choice but to pay €15 million to make his move permanent in January. Monaco’s vice president Vadim Vasilyev was clear in his admiration of Silva’s ability, saying “Bernardo is one of those talented young players around whom AS Monaco is keen to build its future. He has already shown our fans his potential this season, and it was important for us to hold onto the player.”

It was a huge decision for Silva to sign permanently with the Ligue 1 side. After joining Benfica when he was just eight years old, the Lisbon-born midfielder spent 11 years in the club’s youth system. He was originally spotted by Benfica’s former youth coach, Helena Costa, who said he immediately stood out from the pack: “I remember looking at the pitch and saw a little player with long hair who impressed everyone with his left foot. It was impossible not to see his talent. It is a gift.”

Before going on loan, he had played a handful of games for Benfica’s first team, and the temptation would have been to see out the year in Monaco before trying again at his boyhood club. Benfica’s loss has definitely been Monaco’s gain and the

Portuguese international has not only found his feet in France, but enjoyed an outstanding season, earning his four-and-a-half year deal.

On the pitch, Silva is a wonderfully dynamic midfielder with the ability to play anywhere in attack. He loves to drive his team forward and plays with his head up, looking to pick a pass, or find a gap to exploit. With his exquisite left foot, he often looks like he is gliding effortlessly across the pitch before showing excellent technique to link up with his teammates.

It’s easy to label him an all-rounder, making it hard to pick out what he doesn’t do well. On either side, or through the middle, he knows when to run with the ball and when to give it up. Against Arsenal in the Champions League, faced with pressure in a tight situation, he was able to pick out Yannick Ferreira Carrasco with a perfectly weighted through ball, knowing the Belgian winger had the pace to apply greater damage.

To improve one hopes that he will gain more confidence to believe in his abilities, showing a more decisive edge, but that will come with time. As he grows up, so will his position in the team.

Silva will want to continue his progress with the Portugal set-up and with countrymen Marcos Lopes, Raphael Guerreiro and Anthony Lopes all excelling in Ligue 1, France is a great place for him to be at this stage of his career. Vasilyev is keen to make Silva one of the foundations that Monaco build their squad around, and beside the likes of Ferreira Carrasco, Fabinho and Anthony Martial, the future in the principality is rather exciting.

Monaco are building something special on the back of selling James, and if Silva continues to blossom, it won’t be long before they will need to knock back offers to double their profit on their new midfield star.

Club: as monaco

Position: midfield

DOB: 10.08.94

Nat: portuguese

capped: portugal

bernardosilva

bakayoSince making his debut in August 2013, Tiemoue Bakayoko has had a whirlwind 18 months and shown that he has the potential to become one of the most impressive up-and-coming players in the French game. By moving to Monaco in the summer, the former Rennes midfielder spurned the opportunity to build on an encouraging season with Rennes. Bakayoko clearly isn’t one to rest on his laurels.

“Monaco is gaining momentum. [Moving] is a good thing, this is a new challenge,” opined the 20-year-old on the eve of his move. Choosing to transfer to the principality so soon was a brave move, and one which could yet go either way. Bakayoko has featured intermittently in his first season in Monaco, but the plaudits have come. He has played well in each appearance in the 2014/15 season, and they have not been minor appearances, starting each one. Crucially, barring his debut in the first game of the season – where he only lasted 31 minutes due to injury – Monaco have not lost a game in which Bakayoko has featured.

Les Monegasques are looking to build a side fuelled by youth and Bakayoko will certainly play a huge part at the heart of the project, but may have to wait until next season to really impose himself. Although he has already shown signs of improvement, it has been a disjointed campaign for the Franco-Ivorian.

Injured in the opening day defeat to Lorient, he didn’t make his comeback until October’s 1-1 draw at PSG. It looked like he was set for a long run in the team when he started five

games in a row in at the turn of the year, but a thigh injury in the Coupe de France against Guingamp ruled him out for six weeks.

The 20-year-old’s game is centred around his physical nature, with the ability to effectively break up the opposition’s attack before they get to the final third. He has shown superb aerial presence, and it’s no surprise that Jardim has taken to the midfielder.

Other impressive attributes include well-timed and effective tackles and intelligent interceptions, which often spark breaks, leading to chances for his teammates at the other end. He does everything one would want from a defensive midfielder, and he

does it to the best of his young ability. It may have been a frustrating season, interrupted by injuries, but this hasn’t harmed his growing reputation too much.

It is no surprise, also, that a number of Premier League clubs have already begun circling around the midfielder. It’s often hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to rumours about young Ligue 1 talents, but there is no smoke without fire. It only serves to confirm that the right people are taking notice and that Bakayoko rightfully earns his place in any conversation about France’s talented youth.

Rather than looking for a future away from Monaco, the next aim for Bakayoko should be to find consistency in his fitness and performances. Injury has meant that his time on the pitch has been severely limited in 2015, and while Monaco have been excelling in both the league and Champions League, Bakayoko hasn’t been able to learn from this experience on the pitch.

It’s no surprise that there are some deficiencies in his game – he can suffer from lapses in concentration which leave him vulnerable. There have been at least two clear occasions where too much of an enterprising venture in the opposite half have left Monaco with a gaping space in midfield. To close the gap, Bakayoko resorts to the extreme, where a silly tackle can earn him an unnecessary yellow, and in the case of the match against Saint Etienne, a second yellow.

Whether Bakayoko can play with the big boys remains another question. In the Champions League, he has only managed 181 minutes this season, so that will be a test for another day. However, given more exposure to the competition, there is little doubt he will be able to adapt. As highlighted in his move to Monaco this summer, Bakayako isn’t one to turn down a challenge.

Club: AS monaco

Position: midfield

DOB: 17.08.94

Nat: french

capped: france u21

tiemouebakayoko

sansonMorgan Sanson is a product of Le Mans’ academy, which he joined at 15, going on to play 28 games and score three goals in his first professional season (2012/13) when the club were in Ligue 2. As financial difficulties hit, Le Mans needed money and their promising midfielder, already capped for France under-19s, was a good asset. Sanson came to Montpellier in the summer of 2013, for only €700,000, which even at the time looked like some astute business from MHSC.

Initially, he came in as potential cover for Remy Cabella, around whom transfer talk was already building. As things turned out, he quickly established himself in the team alongside – or slightly behind – the MHSC playmaker. This was reminiscent of how Cabella had played himself into the first team; originally cover for Younes Belhanda, being his customary replacement in the title-winning season, he ended up appearing alongside him in the second half of the 2012/13 season.

Sanson, however, was not a like-for-like switch for Cabella. As well as being comfortable in a range of attacking midfield positions, he was also adept further back, demonstrating an ability to win the ball and charge forward from a deeper position, as well as putting in shifts on either wing as necessary.

In his first season with La Paillade, therefore, Sanson played 36 matches in the league and both cups, getting two assists and a goal, and was a definite bright point in an otherwise iffy

season as Montpellier finished fifteenth. He then won a call-up for the under-21s for Euro qualifying, scoring against Kazakhstan, but spending the gutting second-leg play-off defeat to Sweden on the bench.

This season, he has been even more crucial, starting almost every game, his ‘minutes played’ record a string of 90s, with five goals and four assists by Week 30.

Montpellier still require all outfield players to be polyvalent, but this is little problem for Sanson as he makes key contributions whether playing centrally, in a more advanced role, or on the right wing. Three of his goals have come from rapid charges

cutting into the centre to latch onto a ball from the left, the most characteristic of which was in the 4-0 away mauling of Rennes in early December, in which he also returned the favour by putting through Mounier for the fourth.

The destruction of Rennes finally made Montpellier’s attacking stats look almost as impressive as their defence’s. The team’s offensive problems had seen them yo-yo-ing around the table, including some nervy weeks in the bottom half, but from there they pushed on, and started 2015 with a great run. That uptick in form coincided with Sanson really bedding into the season – after a goal and an assist in the first three matches, he had gone relatively quiet, until bouncing back, and he has notched three of each since that big win in Rennes.

A stats round-up by Montpellier at the halfway point showed him as a vital cog in their passing game along with Jonas Martin. However, he was also putting in crosses such that he was level with Anthony Mounier, one of Montpellier’s most potent attacking threats this season. As well as that, he was making more dribbles, more tackles, and winning more duels (admittedly not duels aériens) than anyone else.

This is the key to Sanson. He has a maturity and a flexibility that would be admirable in a player many years his senior, able to adapt to different positions, and make both attacking, holding, and defensive contributions. Montpellier have lost a lot of key players in the past couple of years but they didn’t have the breadth or balance of impact that Sanson has. He’s a terrier, yes, a hard worker, but also with a lovely touch, and a great understanding with the players around him.

Club: montpellier hsc

Position: midfield

DOB: 18.08.94

Nat: french

capped: france u21

morgansanson

cyprienDespite a miserable season off the pitch, young midfielder Wylan Cyprien has been one of few reasons for beleaguered RC Lens fans to smile. The 20-year-old, hailing from Les Abymes in the French département of Guadeloupe, was picked up from Paris FC’s youth academy in 2012 and finished his footballing education at the club’s famed la Gaillette centre of excellence. The promotion of youth has been one of precious few positives for les Sang et Or on their largely disastrous return to the top-flight after a three-year absence and few have shown as much promise as Cyprien.

Primarily a right-footed central midfielder, the French under-19 international starlet excels in a central midfield three, in front and to the right of a more defence-minded destroyer. Cyprien is fast, passes well and possesses the sort of technique one would expect from a graduate of one of French football’s most accomplished finishing schools. Tackling and the defensive aspects of the game are not his strong points, but he is creative and blessed with a neat first touch as well as good vision.

Cyprien has also demonstrated that he has an eye for goal, scoring an early contender for goal of the season with a thumping drive in a 4-2 home win over Stade de Reims back in August and then a well-taken effort in a 2-0 home success against OGC Nice in December. The goals were scored with different feet and helped to secure two precious wins for Antoine Kombouaré’s men. Cyprien’s assist for Pablo Chavarría in the same Reims game also demonstrated his ability to use both pegs.

Kombouaré is an excellent judge of character and a coach adept at getting the best out of a limited group of players, as well as helping to nurture young talent. He is a great admirer of Cyprien, despite the pair having had some issues as the youngster comes to terms with life as a professional.

“He listens well and is very disciplined. He can defend, but is also able to contribute going forward in support of the attackers,” Kombouare observed earlier this season. “That is where he can best show his quality, notably his shooting ability. He can be robust in the physical battles and he is the youngster that I am keeping my eye on, because he is never far from doing

something foolish. He takes things forward in midfield. He struggled physically after a good start to the season and needs to bulk up a bit, but must also take care with his lifestyle.”

Those comments about Cyprien’s physical struggles perhaps explain why he found himself out of the starting eleven for a run of games in December, starting three consecutive league games as a substitute. However, if that was Kombouaré teaching his young charge a lesson, it certainly worked. The young midfielder scored on his return to action against Nice and helped to secure a rare win.

Cyprien is a gifted player with a bright future ahead of him, but Lens may well struggle to keep him past this summer. If les Sang et Or go down, which looks nailed-on whether it is forced or a natural consequence of their difficult season, a number of the club’s best young talents will go. Promising right-back Dimitri Cavaré has already joined Stade Rennais and there will be others who follow him out of the door.

If Cyprien does decide to leave Lens, he would do well to consider developing for a couple more years in Ligue 1 rather than thinking of a move abroad. However, assuming that Lens begin next campaign in Ligue 2, perhaps the best decision that the youngster can make in order to ensure that he progresses is to remain at the club for at least a season more.

Club: rc lens

Position: midfield

DOB: 28.01.95

Nat: french

capped: france u19

wylancyprien

nkoudouLike so many young footballers born in the Ile-de-France region of the country, either Paris Saint-Germain fail to spot the player’s potential, or they don’t realise what they’ve got until it’s gone. Born in Versailles, Georges-Kévin N’Koudou would play for the famous ‘Petits Anges’ club in Paris’s 7th arrondissement, but after two years in their academy, PSG let him go. Their loss has definitely been FC Nantes’ gain, and the 20-year-old winger is quickly becoming one of Ligue 1’s rising stars.

Before making his move to Nantes, N’Koudou, just like fellow winger Allan Saint-Maximin, spent time at Parisian side Boulogne-Billancourt. Les Canaris would then win a fight with northern club Lille to bring the 16-year-old into their youth set-up. Quickly he impressed the club enough to give him a professional contract and on the first day of the 2013/14 season, the 18-year-old made a brief debut against Bastia.

It wouldn’t take him long to score his first goal. Already 1-0 up against Lorient in the early stages of the Coupe de la Ligue, N’Koudou raced to the back post, tucking away Olivier Veigneau’s cross. It was his blistering pace that made the goal possible, with Lorient’s Pedrinho almost shocked to see the winger there when he turned around.

“In the first two or three metres, he has the incredible capacity to explode”, said Samuel Fenillat, the director of Nantes’ training centre. “More importantly, he is able to maintain his speed. He can make these high-intensity runs over and over. It is very rare.”

This season he has continued to trouble defences with his pace. At home against Lyon in the league, he showed Bakary Kone a clean pair of heels and the defender had almost no other option but to bring him down for a penalty.

It’s not just his pace that makes him a nightmare, but his upper-body strength and athleticism that helps him impose his will down the flanks. Once he is in front of you, even if you do have the pace, N’Koudou makes it very hard for you to get back in front of him.

The right-footed winger prefers to play on the left of Nantes’ midfield, giving him the option to cut inside and threaten through the centre. Coach Michel Der Zakarian has urged him to play wider, varying his attacks to keep defenders guessing. Although he feels more secure on his right, staff at the club noted that he is almost better at crossing with his left foot. His goal against Evian showed the confidence he has on his left: Serge Gakpe’s cross from the right found N’Koudou through the centre and instead of trying to take it with his right, he opened up his body and finished with his weaker foot.

Early in the season, he scored an absolutely tremendous goal against Guingamp at the Beaujoire. Attacking the space left by his teammates, he met the ball first-time, curling it high into the top corner with his right foot. It showed confidence, ability and a touch of class. He is still only 20, but it is that confidence that he needs to show on a more consistent basis, and N’Koudou knows it: “I’m happy... well, let’s say satisfied, because when I was in the youth team I was told I had to improve my end product,” he said. “So I’ve worked hard on shooting and playing those final balls.”

With only one assist this season, his productivity needs to improve. N’Koudou loves to take on his man, and he does it with a smile on his face, but it’s the old adage of knowing when to pass, when to dribble and then having the confidence of his own convictions.

N’Koudou has said that Der Zakarian has told him to take the handbrake off and let himself go, something that is all too rare in youth development in France. When N’Koudou starts to believe in himself a little bit more, and heeds the advice of his coach, the winger with pace to burn and the ability to finish is going to become a wonderfully dangerous player to watch.

Club: fc nantes

Position: midfield

DOB: 13.02.95

Nat: french

capped: france u21

georges-kevinn koudou

hassenThe old adage goes that you have to be mad to be a goalkeeper. No one ever says that you have to be old or experienced, but it is rare to find a rookie, let alone a teenager, providing the last line of defence for teams in the top flight of the big five leagues. There are some notable exceptions however, including Buffon in Italy, Casillas in Spain and Landreau in Ligue 1: great role models for Nice’s Number 1, Mouez Hassen.

As les Aiglons prepared to embark on their current Ligue 1 campaign, coach Claude Puel had to make a call as to who would be his new starting goalkeeper, David Ospina having moved on to Arsenal. It was generally expected that Joris Delle, back from his loan spell in Belgium, would take up the role, with then 19-year-old Hassen serving as his understudy.

However, a serious pre-season injury ruled Delle out for six months, giving Puel a dilemma. Characteristically the coach decided to give youth its chance and, despite signing the experienced Simon Pouplin, he appointed Hassen his new number one, making him the youngest starting keeper this season in the big five leagues.

Originally impressing as an outfield player, it was only at the age of 13 that Hassen tried his luck between the posts, at the suggestion of Nice’s youth development goalkeeping coach Thierry Malaspina. He has barely looked back since. In 2012 he helped Nice to win the Coupe Gambardella alongside Jordan Amavi and Alexy Bosetti. In September 2013 he made his debut at only 18, going on to play six matches last season. His ability and potential

has been recognised on an international level too: he has represented France at every age group from under-16 to -20, and just been picked for the under-21 squad for the first time, while Tunisia, for whom he also qualifies, continues to flirt with him.

Hassen has all of the skills that one looks for in a goalkeeper. He is an excellent shot-stopper who, despite his height, can get down very quickly to save low shots effectively. When in the junior ranks, Hassen said that one of his strong points is communication. With the step up to the professionals he perhaps needs to be a little more authoritative, in terms of both instructing his defenders and commanding his area and making crosses his own.

These are, however, common weaknesses for inexperienced goalkeepers that will no doubt improve with time, and, as Nice have suffered this season, one feels that Hassen personally as well as the team in general, could have benefitted from a reliable, authoritative figure such as Renato Civelli in front of him. Still, despite some shaky periods, including three weeks out of the side in December which “allowed me to question myself and to work on my weak points”, Hassen continues to learn and improve and the fans are patient.

Malaspina has spoken of how Hassen sees things quicker than others and his greatest strengths are his speed off the line, enabling him to cut off danger at source, along with his seeming imperviousness to pressure. The last two Nice keepers, Hugo Lloris and Ospina, both became local heroes after precocious starts and it is no coincidence that they have the same two strong points. These are skills that are nurtured at the club, under the tutelage of ex-international and goalkeeping coach Lionel Letizi, of whom Hassen says “before matches he reassures me and asks me to remain calm and follow my instincts”. Hassen acknowledges that this has at times led to errors but the club continues to encourage him as do the supporters, understanding the tough job that he has had this season and appreciating that teething problems will likely be outweighed by long-term benefits.

Hassen’s illustrious predecessors were two of the goalkeeping stars of last year’s World Cup, amongst strong competition from others, some of whom also came from Ligue 1. Mouez Hassen is in the perfect place to pursue his education and, if he continues to learn, he too may become an international star in the years to come.

Club: ogc nice

Position: goalkeeper

DOB: 05.03.95

Nat: french

capped: france u21

mouezhassen

rabiotGiven Paris Saint-Germain’s issues with Financial Fair Play, Adrien Rabiot’s value to the squad is two-fold: not simply his existing skill and undoubted potential as a central midfielder, but also his status as a homegrown player. After a loan to Toulouse in the second half of the 2012/13 season, where he made a dozen starts, he was brought back into the capital fold to make 34 appearances in the following season. At the same time, having established himself as a key player in the France under-19s, he made the step up to les Espoirs aged only 18. Everything was looking rosy.

The beginning of the current season was less impressive, however. It took until the 5th of November – PSG’s 18th competitive match of the season – for him to even make the bench, and another two weeks for him to play for his club, in a 3-2 win away at Metz.

The reason for this was contract negotiations: clearly aware of his value to a squad affected by UEFA-imposed size limitations, Rabiot’s agent – his mother – was widely blamed for pushing for a salary increase above the (large) offer made the club. PSG didn’t blink, stashing Rabiot ‘in the cupboard’ until the extension was finally hammered out.

Since then he has been alternating start and substitute appearances in the league, and been a preferred starter in the Coupe de France, but those three months in the wilderness are both a waste in terms of his development, and a worrying gap on the CV when it comes to any future move.

PSG have a preferred midfield three that takes some shifting, in Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta; however, they are still fighting on four fronts, and the only other central midfielder on the roster is the frequently injured and otherwise largely underwhelming Yohan Cabaye. Javier Pastore may also have dibs on a more advanced role, but given PSG’s usual set-up, there is the opportunity there for the tall, languid midfielder to get good game-time.

Given the PSG attack, goals might not necessarily be thought to be in the job description, but behind the two big guns is the fact that an astonishing 17 players have scored for PSG this season,

with only three regular outfield players failing to hit the mark. Rabiot isn’t one of them. He scored PSG’s second before they went down 4-2 at Bastia, combining with Javier Pastore to capitalise on poor play out from the back, charging into the area to fire home after Pastore was bundled off the ball. Then he notched a brace against Toulouse in a 3-1 win, the first a wonderful strike from the edge of the area as Ibrahimovic backheeled Pastore’s cross back to Rabiot, shadowing the attack; the second a close-range side-foot after Pastore had nearly reduced the Téfécé defence to tears.

What impresses about Rabiot is his maturity on the pitch: Verratti might be the PSG youngster receiving most of the plaudits, and rightly so, but while he combines epic skill with the occasional red mist episode, Rabiot seems much more measured. Tall and willowy, he is clearly stronger than he looks; while he glides around in classic style, he can also get stuck in with the best of them, coming in with key tackles and interceptions, and an extremely strong passing game. His international appearances give a glimpse of the player he could become as he further adjusts to senior football: running the show from midfield.

Given the squad restrictions, and the fact that the ongoing transfer rumours mostly connect PSG with attacking players, Rabiot should have the chance to come good on this promise. He needs to make sure that next season is the one where he establishes himself full-time in the rotation, and pushes on.

Club: paris saint-germain

Position: midfield

DOB: 03.04.95

Nat: french

capped: france u21

adrienrabiot

origiAs senior debuts go, coming off the bench to score an equaliser is a good way to announce yourself to the league. Divock Origi had been on the pitch only minutes against Troyes in the 2012/13 season when he crashed home a header at the far post, setting up a run of substitute appearances in the run-in.

He moved up to being a regular first-team player with 35 appearances in 2013/14 (15 starts), scoring six goals and laying on two assists, supporting Salomon Kalou and Nolan Roux. With Kalou sold in summer 2014, a place opened up in the selection and Origi stepped right in.

That summer there was another, more surprising, opportunity for the young centre-forward. After scoring 10 in 19 for Belgium’s under-19s, he played once for the under-21s before being called up to the senior squad. He played in all their World Cup matches in Brazil, scored the winner against Russia, laid on the assist for the winner against South Korea, and started both knock-out games. He has held onto his place in the squad since, with three starts and a substitute appearance in Belgium’s qualifiers for France 2016.

If 2013/14 was impressive, his showing at the World Cup meant that the cat was well and truly out of the bag, and another opportunity arose. Liverpool came in with a £10m offer, but in a positive move for Origi’s development, he was loaned back to Lille to continue his progression before making the move to the Premier League.

Now one of the players expected to lead the line, things have been more difficult this season. After scoring three in the first eight games, Origi went into March against Rennes having not found the net since October – a penalty against Wolfsburg in the Europa League. Rumours in January that Liverpool might call in his loan early may have unsettled him, but problems were apparent well before that.

This is not entirely Origi’s fault. Lille don’t score much, and often aren’t really set up to do so; despite the best efforts of Rony Lopes and now Sofiane Boufal, the midfield can be more concerned with holding than attacking, with sporadic service to

the front line. This means that efficiency is key, which takes experience – Rene Girard was making noises about needing a proven striker, an older head, in January, but nobody came in (Kalou played that role last season), and it must be remembered that Origi is still only 19.

The hat-trick in that game against Rennes when Lille did play more expansively shows that he is capable of spearheading the attack, but whether he can do it consistently – and the set-up will maximise his chances of doing it – is the question. One gets the feeling that he will flourish with a new challenge in a new league, in a team full of creative players and with a more attack-minded manager.

When looking at his goals, the phrase ‘edge of the area’ often springs to mind – Origi has a fine shot on him, and favours low lashing strikes from a distance, often catching defenders off-guard before they can get organised. There are also a couple of headers in the mix, including against Sochaux last season where he went for it despite nearly being kicked in the head by Simon Kjaer, and close-range finishes where he evades defenders to pounce. He has speed and agility, and presence, particularly in the air.

Origi is also very comfortable playing the ball on the ground, is fond of a long solo run, and has good balance. Against Valenciennes last season, a cross from Kalou came in just behind him – he somehow managed to not fall over as he slammed on the brakes to retrieve the ball and score with a shot from…guess where?

The prognosis is good for his move to Liverpool, where if he gets a run of games with more service than at present, this will improve both his goal tally and shooting efficiency.

Club: lille osc

Position: forward

DOB: 18.04.95

Nat: belgian

capped: belgium

divockorigi

gbaminWhile he may not be one of the headline talents currently blossoming in Ligue 1, Jean-Philippe Gbamin is a very bright prospect who certainly deserves to be monitored closely over the coming year. The most striking fact about this player is that he’s already started over 60 games for Lens, an impressive feat considering he won’t turn 20 until the start of next season. He was thrown in at the deep end very young, and in a few years that decision could be a move that benefits both the defender and his club. Gbamin made his debut at just 17 during the 2012/13 season. The start of a huge learning curve, it is a match that he may want to forget as Lens lost it 7-0 to Guingamp. The following season was much more memorable as he became a regular in what was a promotion-winning team, and his versatility has proven very useful to Lens.

He is known primarily as a centre-back, but has a number of strings to his bow. He is equally adept playing on the right-hand side of defence or, to a lesser extent, defensive or central midfield. In fact, for most of last season he was forced to play secondary roles due to a high number of injuries. This campaign he has been able to experience Ligue 1 for the first time. Unfortunately, it has been a struggle for him at times, but in many ways this was to be expected. He has been part of a fairly poor Lens team battling against relegation, and numerous other off-field issues, which is hardly the best of environments. Concentration seems to be the biggest

issue with Gbamin’s play. Sometimes, completely out of the blue, he will make a mistake and put his team under pressure, which can feel like a random act and unnecessary. He’s proven himself to be fairly competent for the most part, but there always seems to be at least one ‘moment of madness’ throughout a 90-minute stint on the field. He can also be vulnerable in the air, which might seem strange for a centre-back. Height isn’t the issue; it’s more to do with technique and timing a jump. On the positive side, however, he has great pace, a really strong work ethic and a great engine. He has the ability to suddenly inject energy into the team, propelling them forward. This quality is perhaps diminished when he’s playing the centre-back role, but when operating from midfield or right-back he can really help push the pace.

At this stage of his career, there are still a number of pros and cons associated with Gbamin’s ability. However, it must be remembered he’s still only 19 and has a long career ahead of him. When you consider this fact it’s difficult to criticise him too much and he has bags of time to develop. He has originated from a club which has a great history of developing young talent, many of whom have moved on to bigger and better things.

It will be interesting to see what will happen to him if Lens are relegated this season. Ligue 2 would perhaps be a step down for him; ideally he needs to be playing top-flight football to continue his development in a positive manner. Even with all the obvious talent Gbamin has, his future is still unclear. As with a lot of young players, he is at a crossroads. It is clear he has potential, but perhaps there are better young players in his position. It will take another couple of years to see what his full potential could be, but where he is playing and how often he is on the pitch will go a long way to deciding his fate. All too often, young promise turns into an average Ligue 1 player; the next couple of years will determine whether or not Gbamin goes the right way and grows into a great defender.

Club: rc lens

Position: defence

DOB: 25.05.95

Nat: french

capped: france u21

jean-philippegbamin

jeanIf we are talking about football as being the most primal of sports, Troyes striker Corentin Jean would likely pick a cheetah as his spirit animal. Like the apex predator, he is patient and calculating, waiting for his opportunity to strike. Let your guard down for just a split second and he will pounce, and as most of the Ligue 2 defenders have found out, you won’t even see it coming.

As debuts go, Jean doesn’t do things by half. In his very first professional game for the club, the 17-year-old scored against Rennes in the Coupe de la Ligue, but ultimately ESTAC would lose the game 2-1. Fast forward to his first game in Ligue 1, which would again come against the Breton side, but this time the only thing Jean saw was a red card.

An erratic start, but at just 17 years old it was all a learning curve. The majority of his debut season would see him play from the bench, but as Troyes struggled to get out of the relegation zone, Jean started five straight games. He scored three goals, but the side from the Champagne region couldn’t stave off relegation.

For a player like Jean it should have been an ideal situation. However, last season, before the Christmas break, he had only played 245 minutes, making one start. He finished the season with five goals, not the progress he or Jean-Marc Furlan would have hoped for.

Despite not catching the eye as much in his second season, it was clear the club knew what they had. Early on, Furlan purred “What he could do at just 17 is not common, and believe me…I’ve seen a lot of players!” At the beginning of the 2014/15 season Jean began to show what all the excitement was all about. In the opening eight games the young striker made five starts, scoring five times. Strangely, none of his 10 goals this season have come when he has appeared off the bench, but it helps analyse the type of player he has become.

Playing over 90 minutes, there is a very good chance that for 88-89 minutes the 19-year-old might look quiet or struggling to get involved, but he is waiting. Lying in the grass, looking for the

moment the defenders let their guard down. Playing on the shoulder of the last man, he has the intelligence and positional skills to make sure he is ready to pounce on any opportunity.

Four of his goals this season have come in the opening 10 minutes of games. If you are defender, you have to start the game ready for a battle. His speed and ability to play across the front-line make him a constant nuisance. If you are not alert to the situation, any slip and Jean is on to it in a flash. Bigger more powerful defenders can’t even force him onto his weaker foot, as he has confidence and the ability to score from either side. He’s that itch you just can’t scratch.

Although he is small - 170cm - he seems to use it to his advantage, just as Troyes under-17 coach, Philippe Pinson said: “he is not very big but has very high acceleration capability. In the first five metres, he is amazing.” One downside of his size is that it limits how Troyes can line up. He is not very adept at holding the ball up, so more often than not, he needs a partner, rather than playing centrally in a 4-3-3.

Despite his shortcomings, Jean is developing into the ideal triple threat. Inside the box he has the pace and movement to get in amongst the larger defenders, taking away his height disadvantage. His positioning and great sense of timing mean he is capable of getting his head onto crosses too. Then, as he showed against GFCO Ajaccio, stand off him and he has the ability to shoot from distance with devastating effect.

It’s hard not to get excited about the potential of the France under-21 striker. Troyes know what they have got and with promotion back to Ligue 1 on the cards, soon the young cheetah will be unleashed on some more unsuspecting victims.

Club: estac troyes

Position: forward

DOB: 15.07.95

Nat: French

capped: france u21

corentinjean

martialAt times last year it was suggested that Anthony Martial might be better served moving out on loan to another Ligue 1 club to earn some playing time, before honing his skills at Monaco. Then 18, the young striker was still coming to terms with his unprecedented, and surprising, €5m move from Lyon.

Now a year older, and most definitely wiser, Martial’s rise to stardom is gathering pace, and he has managed to show that staying to fight for his place at Monaco was the right move. In the last 12 months, the 19-year-old has developed from one for the future, to one for right now, becoming Monaco’s second striker in the process.

It could have been different under Leonardo Jardim. With Champions League football returning to the Stade Louis II, one could have been forgiven for thinking that Dimitry Rybolovlev and co. would opt for a tried and tested European striker to partner Dimitar Berbatov in the charge for European glory. With Lacina Traore lower in the pecking order, Jardim has resorted to trusting and nurturing youth – something which he has replicated across the field at La Turbie, Monaco’s famed training ground.

Martial has made great strides in the 2014/15 season, after an indifferent start to the campaign. The fuse was lit in Monaco’s game against PSG, in which Martial, coming off the bench, struck very late to earn a point for the visitors. Slowly and surely, the young striker built up playing time, before being handed more starting roles towards Christmas.

Already part of France’s under-21 squad, Martial has matured on the pitch this season. If the end of 2014 was positive, the start of 2015 built on that promise. France have had concerns for the future of their international strikers for a number of years now, and Martial looks to be one of the best young forwards the country has produced; under Jardim’s guidance, his future is bright.

His maturity was confirmed in a stellar month in March 2015. Jardim’s trust and patience had grown to such an extent that Martial made a Champions League start against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. A hugely impressive game saw him pick up an assist in the 3-1 win over the Gunners.

This was followed by four goals in three Ligue 1 fixtures – against Evian, Bastia and Reims – which solidified his starting role within the side, and also put Monaco back in contention for the Ligue 1 title. Such was his impact, it justified Monaco not letting go of their young starlet in the summer.

Martial started the last 12 months as a young, and probably too naïve, striker on the periphery of a Monaco side that still contained the likes of Falcao and James Rodriguez. His performances, alongside a nucleus of talented youngsters this season have helped comfortably to ease the loss of the Colombian duo.

Monaco made it to March still playing on three fronts, and Martial has made an impact as Monaco qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the latter stages of the Coupe de France. The young striker still has a large part to play, although he showed against Bastia – when Monaco were eliminated on penalties in the Coupe de la Ligue – that he still has to find extra depths of stamina. That will come from time and games, however.

At still only 19 years old, Martial is already considerably ahead of his peers. France are lucky to have such a young striker who is getting a taste of top-level domestic and European football. The future is bright.

Club: as monaco

Position: FORWARD

DOB: 05.12.95

Nat: french

CAPPED: FRANCE U21

anthonymartial

lopesAt the start of this season, René Girard threw Marcos Lopes straight into the Lions’ Den. Drawing 0-0 with newly promoted FC Metz, the 18-year-old loanee made his debut with 24 minutes to go. Although the game would end goalless, the Lille fans instantly knew they had been given something very special.

Lille made the move to secure “Rony” Lopes on a season-long loan from Manchester City, with Mikkel Beck – the player’s agent – a former Lille striker, convincing the player of the virtues of the city and the club.

It seems Lopes was always destined for greatness from an early age. His family moved from Brazil to Portugal when he was only four years old, and when his local team saw that he could kick the ball further than the older players, they wanted him to come on board, but he couldn’t officially play for them until he was seven.

At training, he would turn up for most sessions wearing his yellow No. 9 Brazil jersey, emulating one of his idols, Ronaldo, and the kids would call him after his hero. However, his coach joked that he was too small to be Ronaldo, so labelled him “Rony”; the name has stuck ever since.

In just two years at City, he quickly stood out from the crowd and was voted the best player in the Elite Development Squad. Lopes was quick to praise the set-up at City, saying that

they “have everything you need to become a football player. It is a really good club for the development of young players.”

Trust is obviously an important factor for the playmaker. Vieira made him the captain of City’s youth team because he had complete faith in him, which is exactly the reason why he has said he has no problem staying at Lille for another season.

René Girard has given him extra responsibilities on the pitch and Lopes feels he has gained the trust of his new coach. Both Vieira and Girard’s confidence has made Lopes believe that he can be better and that he can improve.

Lille’s main problem this season is that they have not been able to use Lopes as often as they would have liked. “He can make a difference at any moment. He’s got raw talent,” said Girard when asked about the playmaker. Instantly you can see he is a number 10. Whether he drifts left or right, he is always looking for space. Even at just 19, he wants the ball, he wants to dictate the play and he craves the pressure of being the player the team can rely on.

When he has the ball, Lopes’ first instinct is to look to create, but he won’t hold back in trying to finish off his own move. He is not afraid to have an attempt on goal: he showed against Lyon his ability to run with the ball, the strength to hold off Maxime Gonalons and then the superb skill on his left foot to finish beautifully into the bottom corner.

After eight straight appearances to start the season, the midfielder picked up a hamstring strain against Bastia. He would return in Week 12 against Saint-Etienne and help set up Michael Frey for the home side’s only goal in a 1-1 draw. Unfortunately, he would then injure the troublesome hamstring before the half-time break.

Two months would pass before Lille were able to safely put Lopes back on the field without worry of aggravating the injury. During his absence the midfielder began to doubt himself, wondering what he did wrong to deserve another injury. It is that desire to always be better, to look for flaws and strive to become a better player that will get him to the top.

Eden Hazard, Kader Keita, Dimitri Payet…Marcos “Rony” Lopes? Over the past 10 years, Lille fans have become accustomed to having a player who gets them up off their seats, and in his very first season, the talented Portuguese teenager has won the hearts and minds of everyone at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. The fans’ only hope is that they can convince Lopes to stay for another season, as this is one young superstar they are not ready to say goodbye to just yet.

Club: LILLE OSC

Position: MIDFIELD

DOB: 28.12.95

Nat: BRAZILIAN

capped: PORTUGAL u21

ronylopes

lusambaA little over 40 years ago, Metz rejected a young starlet by the name of Michel Platini. He went on to wear the number 10 shirt for Nancy before having a reasonably successful career with Saint-Etienne, Juventus and France. The omens are good for AS Nancy-Lorraine’s current number 10 and Metz youth academy hopeful Arnaud Lusamba.

Leaving the town of his birth to move to the Lorrain neighbours was perhaps a blessing in disguise for Lusamba, as Nancy is quietly becoming one of France’s most productive youth set-ups. The young midfielder has risen through the ranks since joining the academy at 12, and played his first CFA2 matches for the reserves at the tail end of last season.

His performances impressed Nancy coach Pablo Correa sufficiently to hand the then 17-year-old a professional debut as a starter in the first match of this season against Dijon. Lusamba excelled, scoring his team’s only goal, and signed his first professional contract two weeks later. That match was no beginner’s luck and he has been a regular starter for les Chardons this season, establishing himself as the youngest first-teamer in Ligue 2.

Asked recently which position he plays, Lusamba replied “from defensive midfield to offensive midfield, via central midfield”. Indeed, he is so versatile that he took over the goalkeeper’s jersey for France’s under-17s after a sending-off versus Ukraine – and saved a penalty with his first touch!

Although he has played in the three midfield roles, at this stage in his development it seems that the defensive role is not quite the fit for him, as he lacks height and strength.

Lusamba’s technical ability, excellent first touch and willingness to shoot from either foot suggest that he has the potential to become an effective offensive midfielder and he has five goals to his name this season, three of which ensured points for his team and a fourth, against Angers, was a 35-yard lob over the goalkeeper. He has also appeared as a winger, using his speed and crossing ability to good effect. Perhaps the fact that his role model is David Silva suggests offensive midfield is the position towards which he is leaning.

However, his skill-set arguably best suits the central midfield role. His speed and stamina make him an excellent box-to-box midfielder, also using his innate sense of positioning to anticipate when to come back to cover the defence and when to time his run to be on hand to support the attack. His touch and passing range mean that he rarely concedes possession, and he has spoken of how he likes to think about the collective, rather than the personal. He is also an adept set-piece taker – something that he is working to improve upon, confirming that he takes out 10-15 minutes a day to work on his free kicks.

Thanks to his precocious rise, time is on his side, and the French national set-up has also marked out Lusamba (who also qualifies to play for the Democratic Republic of Congo) as a prospect. Capped for the under-16s and the under-17s, the youngster already has three under-18 caps – and was given the captain’s armband on his debut, a testament to his maturity for one so young. The softly-spoken, self-aware Lusamba took the honour in his stride, saying “being captain makes me proud. The onus is on me to go and speak to my team-mates. As I am shy, this role is helping me to open up”.

Lusamba is not getting carried away and seems to have his feet firmly on the ground, saying that his priority is still to pass his science baccalauréat, as “you never know what might happen next”. His older team-mates also acknowledge his potential, Lossemy Karaboué noting that “he has an excellent mentality, well brought up and respectful. Arnaud could have a great career”.

The links to Platini may follow him throughout his time at Nancy but, wherever in the midfield he decides to flourish, expect Arnaud Lusamba to be the centre of attention for years to come.

Club: as NANCY

Position: MIDFIELD

DOB: 04.01.97

Nat: french

CAPPED: FRANCE U18

arnaudlusamba

saint-maFrom the youth academy that has produced talents such as Faouzi Ghoulam, Josuha Guilavogui and, perhaps most impressively, Kurt Zouma, there is a fresh talent burgeoning down in the Rhone-Alpes region of France. Following a handful of appearances in Saint-Etienne’s first team during 2013/14, Allan Saint-Maximin has since established himself as one of the most exciting prospects in France. The third-youngest player to turn out for the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard club in history, he is a player who is very highly regarded at the Loire side. With a shock of bleached-blonde dreadlocked hair, the son of a Guyanese chauffeur and a Guadeloupean headmistress is a figure who is as eye-catching for his appearance as for his footballing abilities. This outrageous haircut, however, very much reflects his on-field personality. Undoubtedly his most startling attribute is his blistering pace. Explosive over short distances, the young attacker is also capable of maintaining such a level over long periods of time and in his schooldays was even regional cross country and decathlon champion. This turn of speed has been most notable when deployed on the wing by head coach Christophe Galtier, who has also been left amazed by the confidence of his versatile young star, who can play anywhere across the forward line. Such self-belief has certainly made other members of the squad take notice.

“The carefreeness of his age gives him his strength,” club captain Loic Perrin pointed out last October, shortly after Saint-Maximin had started his first two games for Sainté. “He is a player steeped with talent.” It seems that the confidence the youngster possesses comes from his parents. While his mother maintains that her son boasts an IQ of 145, enough to be qualified as a genius by most marks, his father, Alex, has been forever convinced of his son’s abilities. “I saw that he had something special when he walked for the first time. He was always a step ahead of the other children, whether that was in speech or motor skills.”

Self-assurance, it seems, is something not in short supply in the Saint-Maximin family. Yet this is something that makes the prodigy a joy to watch; regardless of his success, his very audacity will light up a game. Should he fail once, he has a mentality that allows him to forget recent history and try again completely anew. Positive comparisons with Milan’s Jeremy Menez have been drawn as a result. “For him, nothing is impossible,” quipped Bertrand Rebours, head of AC Boulogne-Billancourt where Saint-Maximin played before Saint-Etienne. “You will never hear him say: ‘I can’t do that.’ Even if he is surrounded by three players, he’ll try something. He is afraid of nothing.” This single-mindedness is the reason he is at Saint-Etienne. Paris Saint-Germain courted him as a 13-year-old, but despite being born in the south-west of the capital and having been offered a very substantial non-solicitation fee, this was an offer he ultimately rejected. Saint-Etienne were there to claim the prize of the youngster’s signature, reportedly in a deal worth a mere fraction of what PSG were prepared to offer. Progression was key to the decision, and the entourage of the player thought that this would come about quicker with Les Verts. So far, they have been proven correct – and a great future for Saint-Maximin is now widely predicted. “I can tell you that Allan will become a star,” remarked agent Jean-Pierre Bernes. “He’s a rough diamond, a very mature guy with well thought-out ambitions.” A muscular injury has rather stalled the 2014/15 season for the 18-year-old, but despite only a handful of league performances to his name, he has attracted the attentions of several major European clubs, with Arsenal most notably on his trail. Saint-Etienne, however, have shown the importance of their charge by tying him down until 2019, by which time it is expected he will be a real star.

Club: saint-etienne

Position: forward

DOB: 12.03.97

Nat: french

capped: france u17

allansaint-maximin

le5010 to watch thewriters

Here are 10 players who could possibly break into next years list

Thomas Lemar - SM CaenSteven Moreira - Stade RennaisFrancois Kamano - SC BastiaBaptiste Guillaume - RC LensMaxwell Cornet - Olympique LyonnaisAlexis Blin - Toulouse FCNeal Maupay - OGC NiceAlmamy Toure - AS MonacoBaptise Aloe - Olympique de MarseilleAdama Traore - Lille OSC

thank you to all the writers who made le50 possible this year

andrew gibneyjeremy smith

philippa boothjonathan johnson

rich allenrobert smithson

robin bairnermohammed ali

steve wyss

@gibney_a

@jeremysmith98

@philby1976

@jon_legossip

@rich_allen85

@_bobeto_

@rbairner

@mohammedali_93

@meatmansoccer

we hope you enjoyed the 2015 edition of le50

2015