1. PSG

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

PSG regained the Ligue 1 title last season after losing it previously to Christophe Galtier’s Lille, but their failure to progress beyond the last 16 of the Champions League saw Mauricio Pochettino fired. In truth, many of PSG’s performances domestically were stilted and overly reliant on individual brilliance to secure victory, particularly early in the season, when the team struggled for fluidity and rode its luck at times.

The whole mantra of the club has changed this summer. Instead of focusing on individuals, there will be a greater emphasis on the whole. While talents like Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi remain, the idea is now to build a cohesive team around these individuals as opposed to relying on these stars.

Undoubtedly the key moment of the summer transfer window was retaining Mbappe. For so long the club’s standout player appeared destined for Real Madrid, but in a spectacular reversal of fortunes, PSG persuaded him to sign a new contract. Key around his thinking was the arrival of Luis Campos as sporting director. He is the man who masterminded the successful title tilts of both Monaco and Lille in recent seasons and comes highly rated.

PSG’s squad remains close to what they ended last season with. Angel Di Maria is the most pertinent player to have departed, although the Parisians will try to trim down an oversized group, particularly in the midfield area. In terms of new arrivals, Porto midfielder Vitinha is the only permanent signing of note to this point beyond Nuno Mendes, whose loan has been made permanent. Youngster Hugo Ekitike has arrived on loan from Reims, where he enjoyed a spectacular breakthrough last season.

Galtier, meanwhile, appears to be planning in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Lionel Messi playing behind Neymar and Mbappe in attack. This is a significant departure from his trademark 4-4-2, which he employed almost exclusively in his previous jobs at Lille and Nice.

Verdict

It’s tough to ever back against PSG winning the league, and that is once again the case. They have resources that their rivals cannot match, and though they appear set to move into a phase of a more holistic approach to their team, they still boast players like Neymar, Mbappe and Messi who simply cannot be touched at a Ligue 1 standard. Just how Galtier can keep this squad in check remains to be seen. It is his first truly big job and as a coach whose reflex is to adopt a pragmatic approach, this goes against what has previously been the PSG ethos.

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2. Monaco

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Monaco made an improbable late run to qualify for the Champions League in Ligue 1 last season by winning nine successive matches after a pretty abject start under Philippe Clement, who had been controversially appointed in January. It was a run that justified the board’s decision, but they must hope it was not simply one lengthy flash in the pan. That will certainly be made evident over the coming months.

The principality club certainly impressed in the closing weeks of last term, scoring plenty of goals and picking off some impressive opponents, such as Marseille, PSG and Nice. They have prepared for this term, meanwhile, by playing a glut of friendly matches in a bid to hit the ground running. With the Champions League qualifiers to come, they cannot afford to be slow off the mark.

The squad has not been transformed significantly, although they did make a high-profile sale in the form of midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni to Real Madrid. With Eliot Matazo to step in, they are covered in that role. Instead, Monaco’s signings have come in attack, where Takumi Minamino and Breel Embolo have been added from Liverpool and Monchengladbach respectively. This hints that there could be sales in this area – especially if the Champions League proper is not secured. 

Monaco have all the pieces to be a successful side, but so much hinges on striker Wissam Ben Yedder, who chased Kylian Mbappe for the Golden Boot in France last season. Look for the exciting Vanderson to continue his development on the right, while Caio Henrique is an exciting performer from deep on the left. At a domestic level, at least, Monaco look a robust squad throughout.

This is a club that has grown used to success, finishing in the top three in France in seven of the nine seasons since they returned to the top flight.

Verdict

If Monaco can pick up from where they left off last season, then they will surely finish in the top three. There is a healthy momentum around the club right now, while the strength and depth of the squad has so far been improved over the summer as Clement moulds it in the direction he wants it to go. Quality and depth appear not to be issues, which will be telling in this unique campaign. Look for Monaco to seal another strong finish, though the margins are likely to be fine, with several clubs jostling for the top three once more.

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3. Rennes

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Take last season as a whole, and Rennes were probably the most exciting club in Ligue 1 to watch. They scored 82 goals and conceded 40, and though they missed out on the Champions League places narrowly, they could count themselves unfortunate. Nevertheless, they are now well established as one of France’s leading clubs, having finished in the top five in four of the last five years.

So far over the summer, not too much has changed. Centre-back Nayef Aguerd, who was a leading player last term and a threat from set-pieces, has transferred to West Ham, while a big transfer fee has been recouped for exciting attacking prospect Mathys Tel. Having played fewer than 10 Ligue 1 matches, though, Rennes will feel well recompensed with his €20m fee.

Incomings, though, have been slow. Aguerd’s replacement, Athur Theate, has belatedly arrived from Bologna, but how quickly he can be integrated into the team remains to be seen. Veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has joined up from Marseille and should be an excellent pick up in a position where they struggled last term. They could use another centre-back, particularly as Warmed Omari is likely to miss the first two months of the season with injury. That means the defensive core will completely change, at least initially.

Everywhere else in the Rennes side thus far remains stable. There are ample exciting attacking players, with Martin Terrier coming out of a breakthrough year and Gaetan Laborde producing a predictably excellent debut campaign in attack. Should wingers Jeremy Doku and Kamaldeen Sulemana get fit and produce their best, Rennes will again be devastating.

The midfield is also wonderfully balanced. Lovro Majer is a graceful central player who will surely only get stronger, while Flavien Tait and Baptiste Santamaria compliment each other well. Crucially, Benjamin Bourigeaud remains at the club after an excellent campaign. He is the fulcrum of the forward line, though his future may not be evident until the end of the transfer window.

Verdict

Rennes still have much work to do in the transfer window, so their final position will be easier to predict come the end of August. At present, they look good to challenge for a European spot again, but it promises to be a more difficult season if they cannot get the players they want in the market. This is ultimately what their campaign is going to hinge on. Either way, they should be an exciting side for neutrals to watch. It looks like they will be stronger with the ball than without it once more.

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La @Ligue1UberEats est de retour sur 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀 ! 🛸

Premier match ce dimanche à l'@orangevelodrome #OMSDR 🏟 #BienvenueSurMars 🪐 pic.twitter.com/3mkNFX8Rfe

— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) August 1, 2022

4. Marseille

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Marseille enjoyed a positive 2021/22 campaign as they finished runners up to PSG for the second time in three seasons. Indeed, the 71 points they accumulated was their best since 2017/18, with Jorge Sampaoli’s side chalking up an impressive 21 wins. That was not enough for the fiery Argentine to retain his post, though, with OM replacing him with Igor Tudor as late as July 4.

Tudor is coming off a successful spell in Italy with Hellas Verona, who he led to ninth in Serie A, but he has never coached in France before.

OM, therefore, have a fair bit of catch-up work to do. They are lagging in the transfer market, with the bulk of their business securing players who were already at the club on loan. Only Luis Suarez (the Granada forward, not the Uruguay legend), Isaak Toure and Chancel Mbemba are new faces at the time of writing. Equally, there are players, such as Duje Caleta-Car waiting at the exit door. Of those who have gone, Boubacar Kamara and William Saliba, who is back at Arsenal, are big on-field influences, though losing goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to Rennes does mean they have lost a club icon.

There is, therefore, a good deal of uncertainty over how OM might perform this season. Certainly, they are likely to revolve heavily around Dimitri Payet, but young centre-forward Bamba Dieng has been showing some promising things in pre-season. Equally, Arek Milik should benefit from Sampaoli’s departure after being curiously underused by the South American.

Marseille have ample depth to cope with the busy season ahead. Although their squad numbers are likely to be cut down before the start of the campaign, there are few areas in which they look like they need to be buffed up. Perhaps the exception is left-back, where Sead Kolasinac and Jordan Amavi failed to impress last season. Tudor, meanwhile, looks likely to retain the 3-4-3 shape that was typically used last term, so there is unlikely to be a tactical overhaul for the squad to cope with.

Verdict

Marseille are a boom-or-bust club, where things can either go very right or very wrong in double-quick time. There is rarely a sense of stability around Stade Velodrome, and that means that predicting how OM might perform is hazardous. After six-straight top-five finishes, on paper they look good enough to repeat that. Indeed, their strength means that a Champions League finish is what the fans – and the board – will expect once again but this has been a difficult summer and they could fall short of expectations.

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5. Nice

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Last season was ultimately one of disappointment for Nice, who finished the campaign outside the Champions League spots in fifth and went down 1-0 to Nantes in the final of the Coupe de France. They had a squad capable of finishing in the top three, and after going second following a win over PSG in March, it was a grave disappointment not to close out top level European football.

Over the summer, meanwhile, the club has had an overhaul. PSG have prised head coach Christophe Galtier away and back has come Lucien Favre. The former Dortmund coach left the club in 2018 after two seasons in charge of the club, during which they finished third and eighth. Certainly, he is likely to make Nice a lot more exciting and dynamic than they were under Galtier, who was criticised at times for being too predictable. 

Favre has his challenges when he walks in the door, though. Goalkeeper Walter Benitez was allowed to leave for PSV, and while Yann Sommer was expected to arrive as the club’s new No.1, this is a deal that has fallen through. Presently, last season’s backup Marcin Bulka is in line to start. Meanwhile, results in pre-season friendly matches have not been encouraging, with Nice both struggling to score goals and also leaking them at an unwanted rate.

Nevertheless, this is a team that is not short of potential. In Andy Delort and Amine Gouiri, they have two versatile forward players of quality, while midfielders such as Khephren Thuram, Mario Lemina and Morgan Schneiderlin are all capable of being strong performers at this standard. Defensively, Dante remains a rock, despite his advancing years, and Jean-Clair Todibo is an able sidekick. Perhaps their greatest Achilles heel is an inability to keep Youcef Atal, who is potentially devastating from full-back, fit. 

Verdict

Nice have been stalwarts in the top 10 in Ligue 1 for the last seven years, and it would be a big surprise if that were to change this time around. The club is building towards Champions League football, but while they may have strengthened their foundations this summer, they are still deficient in terms of having the quality and depth required to finish in the top three. Favre has performed wonders on the south coast previously, but after finishing in every position from ninth to third since 2015-16, they are surely destined to finish in this bracket again.

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6. Lyon

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

There is no doubt that Lyon were Ligue 1’s biggest disappointment last season as the promise of the new Peter Bosz era quickly descended into the reality of a team in full transition as Lyon finished eighth in the standings – their worst finish in over 25 years. Lyon, though, have committed to Bosz for another season, although he will quickly come under pressure if the team struggles.

Quite what sort of team he is able to deploy is still uncertain. The futures of key players such as Lucas Paqueta and Moussa Dembele are up in the air. In particular, Paqueta appears unlikely to remain with the club. While he is OL’s best player on paper, he has not been producing his best level since sporting director Juninho and close friend Bruno Guimaraes left in January, so this is perhaps not the hammer blow it appears, particularly if Houssem Aouar can rediscover his best level.

Meanwhile, Lyon, who have been part-sold to American investors this summer, have worked to re-sign academy products Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso. Lacazette should be good for 15 or more Ligue 1 goals this term, although Tolisso’s impact will be determined by his fitness – he is notoriously injury prone. Their other summer signing to date is Johann Lepenant, a promising defensive midfielder from Ligue 2 side Caen. He is one for the future.

Even without dramatic signings, there is still plenty of potential in this squad. Much of this went untapped last season, whether it was because of fitness or confidence issues, while others, such as Tete and Romain Faivre showed promise after arriving in January. Worrying, though, there have been rumours of discontent in the squad already.

OL, though, need to break their ugly habit of throwing away points against weak opposition, which is something they have done countless times in recent seasons. At their best, they are excellent, but they are also dreadfully frustrating.

Verdict

Lyon’s expectation is to challenge for the Champions League places. Certainly, they should make a marked improvement upon last season, but whether they are ready to jump back into the top three could be a close-run thing. They should benefit from relatively few players heading to the World Cup, while missing out on Europe means their schedule is not as packed as it is typically, so they will be able to run with a thinner squad. An unsettled fanbase means that any early season struggles could cost Bosz his job – OL’s first six matches all look winnable – which adds another layer of uncertainty into the mix over their fortunes.

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7. Lens

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Lens have been one of the big success stories in Ligue 1 over the past couple of years, yet on both occasions they have faded at key times in the season to narrowly miss out on European football. Their success has naturally attracted attention from big teams, and Seko Fofana and Jonathan Clauss, their two outstanding players over the last two years, are destined to follow in the footsteps of midfielder Cheick Doucoure in departing the club.

Head coach Franck Haises faces the challenge of overhauling his team this summer and he has already acted quickly in the transfer market in a bid to make this happen. Their most intriguing addition is Brugge forward Lois Openda, who scored prolifically on loan in the Eredivisie last season. He will take the place of Arnaud Kalimuendo, who was a hit on loan from PSG in each of the last two years.

In the midfield, meanwhile, Polish midfielder Lukasz Poreba arrives as an unknown commodity in France, but their other two picks up in that area, Jimmy Cabot and Salis Abdul Samed, are well known to Ligue 1 fans and should prove to be shrewd additions to the squad, along with former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba.

This is a squad that is not short on competition for places or quality, so it should have the capacity to absorb losing two key figures late in the transfer window, though it is clearly not an ideal scenario. Gael Kakuta will be important in determining how far Lens can go this season; he struggled curiously in the second half of last term – and it is no coincidence that his team did too. Although youngster David Costa stepped up promisingly, Kakuta is simply irreplaceable for Lens when he is in his stride.

Verdict

Not having European football this season may actually play into Lens’ hands in the long term. It means they can focus their energy fully on the league, which is welcome given they are in something of a state of transition after presumably losing three of their best players over the summer months. Had Europe been thrown into that, it could have been a toxic mix that might have dragged the team down the table, but as things stand they should be aiming for the top half once again – and perhaps even a late push for Europe.

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8. Strasbourg

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Strasbourg just missed out on Europe last season as they finished in sixth place, but it was considered to be a campaign that was an overwhelming success for the Alsace side, who had failed to finish in the top half since winning promotion in 2016/17. While they boasted a well-balanced squad, they ultimately benefited from the coaching expertise of Julien Stephan, who continues to enhance his reputation as France’s finest young coach. 

While the French school of coaching is typically pragmatic, Stephan is more outgoing and attacking. This was reflected by the 60 goals his side scored last season – up 20% on what they have managed the previous season. They benefit from having three excellent forwards in the form of Habib Maiga, Ludovic Ajorque and Kevin Gameiro. Unfortunately for Racing, though, Ajorque is being lined up for a summer transfer.

But there is more to Strasbourg than just their forwards. Adrien Thomasson is a clever attacking midfield, veteran Dimitri Lienard remains a machine in midfield and excellent over a dead ball, while Ibrahima Sissoko, Jean-Eudes Aholou and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde bring balance to a midfield that is short of neither quality nor depth.

Wing-back Thomas Delaine has been recruited from Metz and should bring a more attacking threat down his channel, while on the right Colin Dagba has arrived from PSG with a chance to prove himself. Alexander Djiku, Gerzino Nyamsi and Lucas Perrin formed a strong defensive three last season, while having goalkeeper Matz Sels fit for the duration of the campaign will be a significant bonus.

Indeed, the only player of real note to depart in the summer was Anthony Caci, who excelled in the middle or left of the defence. A loan deal for Aston Villa’s Frederic Guilbert has not been extended in any capacity, but he was not a key figure last term.

Verdict

Strasbourg are capable of achieving another top 10 finish, though pushing for Europe will be difficult, particularly if they lose Ajorque. Where Racing will benefit is when the fixture schedule starts to become hectic for the European teams, they will have more juice in their legs, which could make them a difficult proposition. Equally, there is momentum with the club after a strong end to last term, and in Stephan they have an excellent boss, who has already shown that he is capable of elevating the level of the teams he coaches.

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9. Lille

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

After winning Ligue 1 little over a year ago, the 2021/22 season proved to be turbulent for Lille. They made progress to the Champions League knockout stage but that was not replicated in their league form. Indeed, they finished a very disappointing 10th and missed out on Europe by a huge margin. Paulo Fonseca, though, has replaced the unpopular Jocelyn Gourvennec, but while this is a progressive appointment, the Portuguese has his work cut out turning the club’s fortunes around.

Their summer transfer campaign is based on a string of players who are gambles. Mohamed Bayo and Aim Zedadka arrived from a Clermont side that battled relegation last season, and though both impressed, this is their first experience at a big club. Remy Cabella and Jonas Martin, meanwhile, have seen better days in their respective midfield roles and are seeking Indian summers in their campaign. Alexsandro is an unknown quantity in defence, arriving from the Portuguese second division.

These players have big shoes to fill. Sven Botman, Zeki Celik, Burak Yilmaz and Xeka are among the members of the title-winning squad to depart this summer. Only Burak’s influence had truly waned. Meanwhile, those who struggled last season after helping Lille to the title remain. It should also be presumed that a club will be found for Jonathan David, meaning another striker is essential, midfielder Renato Sanches and perhaps even Tiago Djalo. This will mean the bones will have been picked from the title-winning team.

Lille do have some players who could step up. Edon Zhegrova has excellent potential on the wing, but there are concerns that Timo Weah, Jonathan Bamba and Angel Gomes are simply not consistent enough. Meanwhile, the midfield will be tough and combative, even losing Xeka and Sanches, but Jose Fonte will be utterly central to the success of an inexperienced defence. In goal, Leo Jardim does not rate among the league’s top keepers.

Verdict

Lille will likely continue their descent back into the main body of Ligue 1. They are a side that has dangerous players but are likely to be too inconsistent and inexperienced to challenge for European football. It is a squad packed with exciting young talent, but they are still raw in too many key areas and are lacking players who will make a difference on a weekly basis. As things stand, the top half is a realistic ambition, but not much more than that.

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10. Montpellier

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Montpellier are a side that has grown used to mid-table stability in Ligue 1 over the years, yet last season there were cracks beginning to show in the club. Montpellier may have finished 13th, but they picked up only 43 points and suffered 19 losses – a high for the club since returning to the elite in 2009. It is clear that head coach Olivier Dall’oglio does not have a handle on this squad yet.

In response, Montpellier have had a modest transfer window. They have signed from Ligue 2 clubs, pinching Theo Saint-Luce from Nimes and taking Saint-Etienne duo Arnaud Nordin and Wahbi Khazri from the relegated giants. This latter pair should provide depth, variety and cutting edge to an attack that was surprisingly short of those qualities last season. Indeed, the squad has been rationalised, with Florent Mollet moving on after a season underperforming in an unfavoured role on the right, leaving key man Teji Savanier with the playmaking reins. This could be a smart thing.

Montpellier have not lost any other genuinely important players in their squad, with the exception of left-back Mihailo Ristic, who will be replaced by Faitout Maoussa, who has arrived on loan from Club Brugge. Indeed, the defence as a whole is lacking a bit of depth and seems to be leaning unhealthily on Pedro Mendes, who missed all of last season injured, and Mamadou Sakho, who was brilliant for the first half of last term but subsequently faded badly.

Perhaps the key area of the squad will be the heart of the midfield, where Jordan Ferri and Joris Chotard are a combination that promises much once again. However, if this pair loses form or picks up a long-term injury, things will become more complicated.

Verdict

Montpellier should achieve better than they did last season, but it is hard to see them making a big leap forward given what they have done with their squad over the summer. There are more goals in the team now, while there should be a more effective structure given that Mollet has been moved on. Certainly, there appears to be too much quality for Montpellier to be sucked into the relegation dogfight, but that should also have been the case last season. Look for the Stade de la Mosson club to finish comfortably mid-table.

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11. Nantes

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Since coming under the guidance of Antoine Kombouare around 18 months ago, Nantes are a side that have gone from strength to strength. The former PSG coach led the club miraculously away from relegation in his first six months and last term they finished ninth, ahead of the likes of Lille and Lyon. What’s more, they eased up late in the campaign after securing European football via a shock Coupe de France victory.

Nantes will publicly be trying to improve on that campaign, though more realistically they will be seeking to replicate a solid mid-table finish, with the challenge of juggling domestic and European football a very real one for a side that had not expected to perform as well as it did.

Certainly, Nantes have work to do in the transfer market. Six regular members of their matchday squad have departed, including Randal Kolo Muani, who was arguably their star player last season. They have not recouped any money on any of these players, so replacing them will be tricky. Moussa Sissoko has arrived from Watford, but the central midfield area is not one that most urgently needed reinforcements. That is attack, where promising forward Evann Guessand has arrived on loan from Nice. This is his chance to make a name for himself, but Nantes undoubtedly need more.

The backbone of the side has been retained, however, including the impressive defensive spine that was so influential for them last season. To that end, Alban Lafont, Andrei Girotto, Nicolas Pallois and Pedro Chirivella will be key players this season. Offensively, though, they cannot afford to lose any more bodies, with Ludovic Blas attracting significant attention. This is the area they are focusing their recruitment efforts, with Egypt international striker Mostafa Mohamed set to arrive on loan from Galatasaray.

Verdict

Nantes’ squad looks light for the challenges of combining domestic and European football, so injuries and fatigue are two issues that could really affect their performance this season, particularly in the weeks leading up to the World Cup. In the month before Qatar 2022, four of their five matches look very winnable, and this could perhaps be defining for their season. Kombouare has had them punching above their weight for a number of months, but how the new offensive players settle is likely to have an outsized bearing on their success or failure. Certainly, it would be surprising if they were dragged into trouble, but replicating last term’s top-half finish will be hard.

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12. Toulouse

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Toulouse secured their place in Ligue 1 for the first time since 2019/20 thanks to winning the Ligue 2 title. It was a crown that they perhaps should have won more comfortably, but they threw in some odd performances that hindered them. Nevertheless, they were clearly the best team, scoring 82 goals en route to 23 victories. 

Head coach Philippe Montanier has thus far retained everyone from his title-winning squad, while he has added a quartet of new faces. Kjetil Haug joins from Valerenga, Oliver Zanden signs up from Elfsborg while winger Zakaria Aboukhlal arrives from AZ and Thijs Dallinga comes from Excelsior. Toulouse’s recruitment may look disparate and disjointed, but they have relied heavily on statistically driven models over the past couple of years and have a remarkably high success rate. Their squad is, therefore, drawn from apparently random clubs, but it has worked.

Branco van den Boomen may be the biggest mark of this success. The Dutch midfielder was their ace last season, chalking up 23 assists in all competition. His delivery of set pieces was particularly good, while he also scored 12 goals. Similarly, Rhys Healey has been an interesting player since arriving from MK Dons a couple of years ago. He may lack in technique, but he is loved for his battling qualities in attack, while he has returned a decent number of goals.

Indeed, Toulouse lean on their forward line to score, with a limited contribution coming from midfield – with the exception of Van den Boomen. Rafael Ratao, Nathan N’Goumou and Ado Oniawu are all capable of chipping in from wide, but how successful they can be at a level higher remains to be seen.

The Benelux influence in the squad continues in midfield, where Brecht Dejaegere and Stijn Spierings are important figures in what is typically a 4-3-3 formation. Meanwhile, Montanier is seeking defensive reinforcements, although sporting director Damien Comolli has insisted that his team should play a ‘Spanish’ brand of football to appeal to the local populace. It worked last season – but can it be as smooth in Ligue 1?

Verdict

Toulouse have the capacity to surprise this season. Their recruitment policy may be unique, but it has been successful in the past. After initial scepticism, Toulouse now appears to ‘trust the process’. Arguably where their question marks lie is whether their existing stars can be as successful a step up. It promises to be a significant challenge for them. With a dangerous attacking line, though, they are liable to give themselves a chance, particularly against teams around them in the standings.

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13. Brest

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

On the face of things, Brest were a comfortable mid-table side last season as they finished 11th. However, they started the season miserably slowly before embarking on a six-match winning streak – a club record for the top flight that incongruously came after they had gone winless in the first 11 matches of the season. Thereafter, they bumbled along and did just about enough to keep themselves out of trouble, with a three-game winning streak seeing them safe.

Head coach Michel Der Zakarian will get a second season in charge after what was ultimately the club’s best season in years. It was almost entirely predicated on that one winning streak, though.

Brest have so far allowed numerous players to depart the club, although none of these figures typically featured in the starting XI. What is a more pressing issue that is three loan players – Martin Satriano, Lucien Agoume and Ronael Pierre-Gabriel – have returned to their parent clubs having played significant roles. Satriano, in particular, will be missed.

Meanwhile, they have recruited sparsely and diversely. While Mathias Pereira Lage will offer a steady presence down the right, the arrival of 19-year-old Karamoko Dembele is an eye-catching addition. He was earmarked as a star a Celtic yet arrives in France on a free transfer. Brest might not be a club known for their youth development, but he should get his chance.

Despite the lack of arrivals so far, which leaves the squad looking thin, there should be ample quality in Brest’s ranks to avoid the worst of the relegation trouble, particularly if Der Zakarian sticks to the 4-4-2 formation that his players said they favoured last season. Winger Franck Honorat will be their key man, while attacker Jeremy Le Douaron is primed for a breakout season.

Verdict

Assuming Brest sign before the end of the summer transfer window to bolster their squad, particularly in the spine of defence and midfield, they should be a comfortable mid-table side – even with four teams going down this season. The going for them is relatively tricky early in the season, but they showed last year they will not panic if they are in a rut. A run in September and October could be the month that defines their campaign, with two of the promoted sides to play back-to-back, as well as relegation rivals Lorient and Clermont.

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14. Lorient

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Lorient are one of the teams that are set to suffer most from Ligue 1 being reduced to 18 teams in season 2023/24. They perennially battled relegation in the top flight, finishing 15th or lower in each of their last five campaigns in Le Championnat. Indeed, since winning promotion in 2019/20, they have finished 16th on both occasions. That would be enough this season – but it would be cutting it fine.

Last season, they survived despite a bleak mid-season run in which they lost seven successive matches, during which they only scored two goals. Indeed, their survival was largely based around victories against their closest rivals in the run-in, having made a strong start to the season, losing only once in their first nine.

This time around, they should be aiming for a little more. Veterans Fabien Lemoine, Jeremy Morel and Jerome Hergault have all left the club, but that is for the best. They were often injured or unavailable last season and fresh blood may be no bad thing. To this end, the defence has been entirely refreshed, with Gedeon Kalulu and Darlin Yongwa promising players stepping up from Ligue 2, while Montassar Talbi has joined from Rubin Kazan. Crucially, they have added goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo, who will challenge in what has been a problem position.

Key to Lorient’s hopes will be their attack. Terem Moffi was totally off the boil for much of last season but could be a potent figure should he regain his confidence, while Ibrahima Kone hinted at his huge potential with some fine displays off the bench in the second half of last season. With youngster Sambou Soumano still on their books, there is plenty of attacking threat in this squad, particularly when the mercurial wingers Stephane Diarra and Armand Lauriente are taken into account.

Verdict

Lorient will likely flirt with the drop as usual, but if either their defence can finally gel or if their attack can spend a fair portion of the season working towards its full capacity, this is a team that is good enough to avoid the drop. Lorient’s experience in the relegation battle should help them. Furthermore, with a squad in which there is only one outfield player over 30, an intense season should play into their hands.

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𝗨𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁 💎 𝗱'𝗔𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗭𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗶 ! 🎯

🔍 Le résumé du match SDR 🆚 @SassuoloUS (2-2) par ici ⤵️#PrépaSDR #SDRUSSC

— Stade de Reims (@StadeDeReims) August 1, 2022

15. Reims

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Reims are now well established as a Ligue 1 club, having played each of the last four seasons in the top tier. During this period, they have typically finished in the middle of the table, with the one exception a fifth place in the aborted 2019-20 season. Last term, they finished on 46 points, earning 12th spot.

Oscar Garcia took charge last term, and though he promised a more attacking brand of football, that never really materialised. They scored a total of 43 goals, which was a high since their top-flight return, but that only serves to show how pragmatic they were in previous seasons.

Reims go into this campaign, too, having sold last season’s outstanding attacker, Hugo Ekitike to PSG. But there is reason for optimism. Arber Zeneli came back late last term after serious injury and produced a series of fine displays that suggest he will be their main creative force. El Bilal Toure is also a promising forward, but the 20-year-old needs to sort out his attitude problems. Nathanel Mbuku is another youngster with a high ceiling. The issue for Reims will be getting these players to produce the required level on a regular basis. It means their attack is again likely to be a weak point.

Given their relative weakness in attack, it is strange to see the recruitment focused on defence, even if the signings of Maxime Busi and Andreaw Gravillon are simply securing players they had on loan last term. Emmanuel Agbadou also arrives from Belgian football in the defence.

One big change comes in goal where Predrag Rajkovic has departed. The Serbia international had a fine record with Reims and was known for his penalty stopping. In came Patrick Pentz of Austria Vienna. He has big boots to fill.

Verdict

Reims have not bolstered their attack any while their defence looks just as strong as it was last season. The loss of Ekitike might not be as sore as it appears given he spent much of last season injured, but there must still be a concern for Reims offensively. Another season in the lower reaches of mid-table appears likely for Oscar Garcia’s men, who will likely be found floating around the mid-40s in terms of points. If a young talent like Mbuku or Toure catches light, it could transform their campaign but they have not shown anything yet to suggest consistency is just around the corner.

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16. Troyes

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Troyes are City Football Group’s French franchise, and with that comes certain demands. They are expected to play football in a certain way – possession based – and they are expected to try to develop young players for Manchester City. Last season, though, that often meant getting the Premier League side’s deadwood foisted upon them. Almost without exception, those players who arrived on loan from the Etihad were poor. Another batch may arrive this summer, and they will be expected to do better.

Indeed, a 15th placed finish was steady enough work last term but it certainly wasn’t spectacular. The club appeared to do themselves few favours by sacking Laurent Batlles in the winter, with Bruno Irles appointed in his stead. Under Irles, the team seemed to become more pragmatic when they should have been becoming more exciting. Indeed, ESTAC finished the season having scored, on average, fewer than a goal per game.

There has been something of an overhaul in the squad this summer, with 10 players departing. Savio, who was their most notable signing from Brazilian football, was loaned out eight days later to PSV. This seems to be how life will be under the stewardship of the City Football Group at Stade de l’Aube. Meanwhile, Jackson Porozo has joined up from Boavista to strengthen the defence, while Andreas Bruus replaces Giulian Biancone, who has gone to Nottingham Forest. Wilson Odobert has arrived from PSG’s youth teams.

Having boasted a big squad last season, they are still relatively well off in numbers, though perhaps not in experience and even quality. In attack, for example, Yoann Touzghar is a weak option for a Ligue 1 side, while there is not a winger proven to be of consistent quality. In midfield, meanwhile, there is a little more to get excited about, with experienced campaigners Florian Tardieu, Xavier Chavalerin, Renaud Ripart (who can effectively play anywhere) and Tristan Dingome very solid but not spectacular options. Romingue Kouame is the pick of their players there.

Adil Rami is the big name in defence but is a fading force and even in goal there is not a goalkeeper who is likely to figure in the top 10 in his position in the league.

Verdict

Troyes could be in for another long season, with the lack of goal scorer a major problem for the Champagne club. While they are robust in the centre of the field, there is a sense that they are below average all around the field and do not have an area of real strength that they will seek to exploit. Instead, they will have to win their games tactically. Under Irles last season, ESTAC averaged 1.11 points per game, which in a usual season may be just enough for safety, but with four going down this term means that they will be dicing with relegation if there is no improvement.

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17. Auxerre

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Auxerre are one of France’s iconic teams, largely because of the work that Guy Roux performed at the club for 41 years. Hailing from a sleepy small town of 35,000, that Auxerre can perform at such a standard is remarkable, with AJA finally bouncing back into the top tier after a painful absence of eight years. It was achieved via the playoffs, with a dramatic victory on penalties over Saint-Etienne sending them up in a high-pressure match.

AJA suffered from an inconsistent start to the league last season and cannot afford a similar level in the opening half of the season this time around. However, if they can replicate their performances from the last 14 regular season matches – they won 11 and drew two – they stand a chance. This run was marked by a succession of tight victories, which showed that they have a strong mentality but also that their margins of success and failure are fine.

Encouragingly, Auxerre have retained most of the squad that they won promotion with, retaining the majority of their key players. Meanwhile, they have made a couple of intriguing additions to their ranks. In comes former PSG and Barcelona youth Kays Ruiz-Atil, who at 19 is probably already on his last shot of making it to the big time. The potential is there, but is the mentality? Meanwhile, Youssouf M’Changama arrives from Guingamp. At 31, he has never played top-flight football before but has been a standout in Ligue 2 and briefly won acclaim at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year for his displays with Comoros. 

The squad looks well balanced, with most of the team in the peak years of their career. The big question marks are in attack, where Gaetan Charbonnier has struggled to catch light in his previous stints in Ligue 1, Remy Dugimont is a mid-30s veteran who has never played in the top flight and Lassine Sinayoko scored just three times last term. The midfield’s attacking contribution will be vital. With M’Changama and Gauthier Hein having been named in the Ligue 2 Team of the Year last season, they do have pedigree here.

Former France goalkeeper Benoit Costil has been added to their ranks, but he is past his best now. Nevertheless, he should offer additional solidarity.

Verdict

Coached by the experienced Jean-Marc Furlan, Auxerre are capable of giving themselves a shot at survival, although they are likely to find it too great a challenge this season because of the four automatic relegation places. They have more offensive capacity than Ajaccio, who would be seen as a direct rival, but they are clearly gambling on players like M’Changama and Charbonnier coming good. AJA are capable of making a fight of it, but the challenge of staying up will just be too great in the end.

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18. Clermont

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Clermont flirted with relegation last season in what was their first in France’s top flight. Key to their survival was a four-match undefeated run at the start of the season, plus the goals of Mohamed Bayo, who has since completed a big-money move to Lille. Clermont were a funny side to predict last term as they often fared against better opponents yet were weak against their direct rivals. The trick this time around will be retaining their reputation as a banana skin fixture but improving their performances against the relegation candidates.

Losing Bayo is clearly a big blow, particularly given that Clermont have a tradition of only working to pick up players available on free transfers. They have actually spent money on two players this summer – the second and third in club history signed for fees – including centre-forward Komnen Andric, who will be Bayo’s replacement. Arriving from Dinamo Zagreb, he is an unknown quantity in France along with centre-back Mateusz Wieteska, who arrives from Legia Warsaw.

The other additions they have made are designed to bring more experience to the side. Former Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons is an interesting pick up who should shore up the defensive side of things; he will replace Salis Abdul Samed, who has joined Lens. Brazilian left-back Neto Borges is their other high-profile addition.

One area of concern is in goal. Although Ouparine Djoco won the battle for the No.1 shirt last season, he’s not proven himself to be consistent, while Mory Diaw, signed from Lausanne, is untested at this level. Meanwhile, a defence that conceded 69 times has barely been touched.

At the other end of the field, who can replace the 16 goals Bayo scored? That accounts for close to half of Clermont’s total tally of 38, which was achieved despite playing a possession-heavy style that saw them go toe-to-toe with France’s biggest sides in an unflinching manner. Don’t expect head coach Pascal Gastien to change his tactics for this season in any case.

Verdict

Clermont’s experience last season should set them in good stead for another crack at Ligue 1 this time around, but the loss of Bayo will be a heavy burden to carry. Given the margins for Clermont are narrow – they were only five points better off than bottom side Bordeaux last season and had a similar goal difference – they could ill afford such a loss. With four teams going down this season, it’s going to be a long season. If they can learn to become competitive against their direct rivals they will stand a chance, though.

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19. Angers

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Angers might have finished 14th in Ligue 1 last season, nine points above the relegation playoff position, but there was significant worry over their place in the league for a long period of the second half of the season. New coach Gerald Baticle had promised a bright, attacking style of play at the beginning of the campaign. This worked initially, but when teams worked them out, they lacked a Plan B and were drawn into trouble when they won four points from a possible 44 during a period around Christmas.

They were ultimately able to pick up the points to keep themselves free of the worst of the trouble and earn themselves an eighth season in the top flight, but this season promises to be harder than the last for a club that has finished between 12th and 14th in five of the last six campaigns.

Financial issues have meant that they have had to allow key players to leave. Angelo Fulgini and Jimmy Cabot were two of their three best players last season, but both have been sold, while promising young forward Mohamed-Ali Cho has also departed. Cho left for over €10m, but his value was in his potential as much as his immediate output. Angers need a player who can be prolific immediately, and they have put their faith in former Rennes attacker Adrien Hunou, who is returning from MLS. Worryingly, he has never been a particularly regular scorer.

Beyond their best players, Angers have also lost some of their most experienced players. Vincent Manceau, Ismael Traore, Thomas Mangani and Romain Thomas are emblematic of the club who have gone. All might have been in their 30s, but all provided proven Ligue 1 quality. With these players, the coach knew what he was going to get. There are no guarantees with regards to those who have come in. None played at a level comparable to Ligue 1 last season. So much relies on winger Sofiane Boufal offensively while a lack of centre-backs needs to be rapidly addressed.

Verdict

Angers have lost experience and quality over the course of the summer months and they have so far failed to replace it. They look in a worrying state approaching the new season, and while Gerald Baticle managed to dig his side out of trouble last season, there are serious questions over whether he has the tactical acumen to keep them safe with four teams going down. Expect Angers to be in the relegation mix if they do not add quality to their squad before the end of the transfer window. At present, they have a side that will be going down.

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20. Ajaccio

Squad Assessment & Transfer Business So Far

Ajaccio are back in Ligue 1 after a long eight-year absence, and they will return with their typically exuberant home support, who will make Corsica a difficult venue for any visiting team. Olivier Pantaloni’s men climbed back into the top flight by finishing second to Toulouse in Ligue 2 last season, but the race to finish second was a tight one and in truth there was little to pick between them and third-placed Auxerre, who won promotion via the playoffs.

Les Ours will be based around defensive strength. They conceded only 19 goals last season – by far the fewest in the league – in part thanks to goalkeeper Benjamin Leroy, who had a formidable season. In contrast, offensively they were very weak, netting only 39 times, which was the fewest of any top seven side and only two teams in the top 14 had a poorer record. They still look short offensively, having added only veteran Saint-Etienne attacker Romain Hamouma and Kevin Spadanda from the Swiss second tier to their side. The Algerian is coming off a season in which he was beset by injury issues, and now 35, getting serious production from him will be difficult.

Another key for Ajaccio will be their home form: last season they won 13 of 19 home matches, losing only three.

What Ajaccio do not lack is experience. They have a squad loaded with potential starters in the latter part of their 20s and in their 30s and there has been relatively little effort to change that over the course of the summer to date. Thomas Mangani and Mickael Alphonse, for example, are two recruits deep into their 30s.

Traditionally, Corsican teams are hard-nosed but the 68 cautions that Ajaccio picked up in Ligue 1 last season was an unremarkable figure. If they are to compete this time around, they may need to become tougher because they are going to have even more defensive work to do than they did last term.

Verdict

Experience will only get you so far in Ligue 1 and there is a distinct lack of top-flight quality in this team. They may prove something of a banana-skin fixture thanks to their defensive organisation, but unless they can beef up their attack significantly in virtually all areas, the prospects of them staying in Ligue 1 are scant. Their aim will be to pick up narrow wins against their closest rivals at home, and look to frustrate the bigger teams. With four teams going down this season, Ajaccio’s prospects of survival look extremely slim.

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