8 Ligue 1 Players Whose Contracts Are Ending Next Summer
In the final article on players whose contracts expire next summer, I will be taking a look at Ligue 1. The French premier division is a pool of talented, up-and-coming players that often look for a route out of France to join bigger teams in bigger leagues. However, with the arrival of billionaires to clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, players are becoming more inclined to stay due to the fact that Ligue 1 is growing in popularity and ability. The stranglehold on the league held by Marseille and Lyon has been broken by these two clubs and now we have a four or five horse race for the title. This is one of the reasons why the league has grown in popularity, with the increasing uncertainty around who could potentially win adding more excitement. However, many players still look for a way out and a few of those could make this list:
1. Jeremy Menez
With the arrival of Lucas and Ezequiel Lavezzi, the game time that Menez receives has significantly reduced as he’s only appeared eight times for PSG this season and most of those have been substitute minutes. For this reason, it could be the player himself refusing a new contract unless he is guaranteed more minutes rather than PSG not offering him one. However, he’s still in the French squad and is still just 26 years old, so if a team were to pick him up on a free then it would be one of the deals of the summer.
2. Blaise Matuidi
A surprise inclusion on the list given his importance to the side and his regularity. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him taken off soon. If PSG do let him go then a whole host of top teams will be battling to get his signature, as he’s an extremely good defensive midfielder due to his combination of aggressiveness and talent. Breaking up play and starting an attack with a an accurate lofted pass is generally what we see from him.
3. Bafetimbi Gomis
The Frenchman was on the shopping list of Newcastle over the summer and was heavily linked with a move across the pond (some reports suggested that the Magpies had actually bought him). However, he remained at Lyon, but for how much longer will that be the case? Who knows? What we do know is that he may be available for free over the summer.
4. Filip Djordevic
The Serbian striker has been in great form this season, scoring eight goals in 13 games but that still hasn’t given FC Nantes enough reason to sign him up to a long-term contract. If they don’t, then a team like Crystal Palace, Hull City or Fulham definitely should.
5. Vincent Enyeama
The Lille star has conceded just four league goals so far this season, as well as claiming 11 clean sheets to show how rock solid him and his defence are. It’s worth noting that he hasn’t conceded a goal in 720 minutes and that looks set to continue after the international break.
6. Jimmy Briand
The other Lyon front man is also out of contract next summer so unless the French club want to be left a bit bare in attack then at least one of these players needs to be tied down. However, it’s not an obvious decision as to who just yet because both have the same number of appearances and the same number of goals.
7. Garry Bocaly
The Montpellier right back was on loan twice at the club before joining back in 2010 from Marseille. He was a part of the French side’s Champions League adventure last season but was never really part of the team in the league due to injury. He is yet to return to the squad and is not likely to be part of the team next summer.
8. Eric Abidal
There’s not an awful lot you can say about Abidal apart from the fact that he is a legend of the game and will be remembered fondly by many. A real gentleman, any team would love to have his experience and knowledge of the game to teach the younger generation what it means to represent your team.
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