Mercato Mercato – Ligue 1: Announced starters, they are still there: from Paqueta to Fofana, who will shake the end of the market?

Alban Lafont

• FC Nantes / 23 years old / under contract until 2024

In the situation : “I want to progress further, to seek important competitions, to win titles”, explained the doorman of FC Nantes in the columns ofWest France at the end of last year. This summer, the former Fiorentina, who has reached a plateau for a few months, has an exit voucher. But according to The teamdespite discussions with several clubs, no offer has yet arrived at Nantes offices.

What to expect : Antoine Kombouaré gave a rant that could encourage FC Nantes to review its position on certain exit vouchers. Author of an excellent start to the season, in the continuity of his last exercise, Lafont will not accept just any project, even if he will remain very attentive until the end. A last minute movement is therefore not to be excluded, but seems rather unlikely, especially at his post.

Alexander Djiku

• RC Strasbourg / 28 years old / under contract until 2023

In the situation : Everything was tied up for a start in Hoffenheim… then wreckage. His brother and agent scuppered the deal by asking for an increase in his commission at the last moment, and the former Caennais resumed the season with Racing. “I am very well, I am in Strasbourg, I will do everything to stay here”, he even declared after the defeat of the Alsatians against Monaco on the first day, on August 6th.

What to expect : According The team, Strasbourg is more and more open to the idea of ​​seeing Djiku honor his last year of contract, before leaving free in a year. The club and the player therefore seem on the same wavelength, namely to opt for a status quo. And if the Ghanaian’s situation remains monitored in Turkey and in the Premier League, Racing would have difficulty finding him a replacement of equivalent level in the last days of the transfer window.

Fofana School

• RC Lens / 27 years old / under contract until 2024

In the situation : Very convincing since his arrival in Ligue 1 two years ago, the former Udinese player has seen his rating soar. And his name associated with big teams, starting with Paris Saint-Germain. “Everything is possible. I’m taking advantage. I’m taking everything I have to take. We’re in the transfer window, there’s a lot of thinking. One day you say you’re staying, the next you’re going to leave. You don’t don’t really know”, he declared to The team beginning of July. A month later, in front of the press, the powerful midfielder repeated approximately the same speech. And no offer seems to have arrived.

What to expect : If Fofana indicated that he would have no problem staying, he also made it clear that he was open to leaving. Coincidence or not, he has in any case just changed agent to be represented by Sport Cover two weeks before the market closes, according to Foot Market. It remains to be seen how much Lens in demand. If the figure put forward by the Sun when talking about an interest from Arsenal – namely 47 million euros – is true, it could cool more than one, especially at the very end of the transfer window.

Lucas Package

• Olympique Lyonnais / 24 years old / under contract until 2025

In the situation : He is the biggest market value of the Rhone club, and Jean-Michel Aulas would dream of exceeding the 60 million euros recovered for Tanguy Ndombele three years ago, according to The team. One of his very best players, too.

Despite a more disappointing second half of last season, Paqueta completely revived at OL, taking up a prominent place in the Brazilian selection. Something to attract all eyes, especially those of the Premier League. Newcastle were first announced as a suitor after already luring Bruno Guimaraes last winter. Then it was the turn of Arsenal and especially Manchester City to be cited. Without any offer coming.

What to expect : Short-term movement. If a satisfactory offer arrives for both the club and the player, Paqueta will leave. If it’s not this summer, it could be next winter, after the World Cup which Paqueta obviously wants to play. Bruno Cheyrou, head of the recruitment unit, has already announced that he expects a hectic winter transfer window.

Benjamin Bourigeaud

• Stade Rennais / 28 years old / under contract until 2023

In the situation : One year from the end of his contract and after a very successful season, Bourigeaud knows he is at a key moment in his career. Leicester, Lazio Rome, and AS Roma would be interested in his profile according to the Telegramwhile the versatile midfielder would also reflect on the extension proposal (with salary increase) submitted by Stade Rennais.

A big question mark hovers over this file, as over that of his teammate Hamari Traoré. “From the moment we start the championship, we will finish the championship together. I fervently hope that they will stay”, Declared in any case Florian Maurice in front of the press at the beginning of August.

What to expect : An offer, to begin with. which has not yet been the case according to France Blue. And if the latter is satisfactory, the words of Florian Maurice will certainly not weigh heavily. At 28 and at the “prime” of his career, the former Lensois most certainly remains open to a departure.

Ludovic Blas

• FC Nantes / 24 years old / under contract until 2024

In the situation : According to Voice of the North, his transfer to LOSC was tied up in the middle of last week, both from a contractual point of view and between the two clubs, with an agreement for an amount of 15 million euros plus 2.5 million bonuses and a resale percentage. But there again, the muscular exit of Antoine Kombouaré could have its effect. In any case, it would have slowed down the finalization of the transaction.

What to expect : Always according to Voice of the North, the Blas clan is still confident in this case, which should materialize. Sportingly, this departure makes sense for the attacking midfielder, who has reached a new level with the Canaries. Economically, the FCN would be there. If Nantes reassures itself by advancing its pawns for a potential replacement, everything can quickly come to an end. The latter could be Gaël Kakuta.

Gaël Kakuta

• RC Lens / 31 years old / under contract until 2023

In the situation : The attacking midfielder, who has already moved a lot in his career, would have expressed his desires to leave to the Lens management. Clubs would be interested on the side of Saudi Arabia… but also of Nantes, which would see in him the successor of Blas. Still, the point made by West France on this subject does not encourage optimism: the discussions would be at a standstill for the moment because of the presence of many Nantes intermediaries.

What to expect : One year from the end of his contract, Kakuta knows that he will be able to multiply the solutions with a free player status in a few months. But the trend remains strongly to a departure. It remains to convince Lens, not necessarily willing to let him go at first, and who will obviously ask for transfer compensation.

Jonathan David

• Lille / 22 years old / under contract until 2025

In the situation : Two matches, two goals, two assists: David has restarted this season with flying drums. But at the end of last year, his agent was quite clear about Radio Canada : “For us, the objective is to finish the season at Lille, but it will be his last season there for several reasons.” Still, not everything went as planned since The team announced in May that this departure was no longer so obvious. This was confirmed later, since no convincing offer arrived.

What to expect : David has entered his season perfectly, with a new coach with ambitious ideas and a successful recruitment from LOSC. The more time passes, the more a departure this summer would seem risky a few months before the World Cup. For its part, the northern club has already sold very well and no longer intends to part with holders before the end of the transfer window. In any case, it does not need it from an economic point of view.

Ludovic Ajorque

• RC Strasbourg / 28 years old / under contract until 2024

In the situation : He too is one of the players with an exit voucher this summer. But time is running out, and nothing has changed. “Everyone knows it: we are open to a departure from ‘Ludo’. But at some point, the question of timing may arise. We have not given him or his agents a deadline. But we cannot nor continue to wait like this until the end of August. At some point, we will have to adopt a firm position”, explained the Strasbourg sports coordinator Kader Mangane in the columns of theAlsace a few days ago.

Hertha Berlin seemed very hot on this issue at the end of July, but ultimately preferred Wilfried Kanga. Then it is the name of Everton which has appeared in recent days.

What to expect : The situation of the 1.97m striker is linked to that of his teammate Habib Diallo. Not necessarily announced on the departure at the start of the transfer window, the latter would express a strong interest from Salernitana according to The team. Racing will not be able to afford to lose both, but one or the other will certainly – or almost – pack their bags.

Mauro Icardi

• Paris Saint-Germain / 29 years old / under contract until 2024

In the situation : We could have mentioned the many undesirables of PSG, but some of them ended up leaving (Thilo Kehrer) while others will certainly do so very quickly (Paredes, Gueye). Mauro Icardi remains today one of the main balls of the Parisian workforce, in a sector where he no longer has his place.

“The club is working closely with him to find the best possible solution. He has had very little playing time in recent seasons. I think it is important for him that he recovers,” explained Christophe Galtier at a press conference last Wednesday. Monza ruled out the idea of ​​signing the Argentinian, RMC Sport indicated that Dortmund were not interested. Then the Nice, Manchester United and Galatasaray rumors surfaced. Nothing very concrete, however.

What to expect : A loan. It is hard to see which team could draw the check expected by PSG for the former Inter striker this summer. Reviving this season to be sold one year from the end of his contract, that could limit the damage.