After the shock revelation last week that the Ligue 1 season would not be restarting, clubs have been left to count the cost of the decision.
According to Daily Mail of UK, the top five Premiership clubs are after six young players in the French to league. Among those being sort is Nigeria’s red-hot striker, Victor Osimhen.
It is estimated that the French top flight will lose, in total, up to £175m as a result of the government’s decision to ban all sporting events until September.
It means that owners and chairmen will have to find ways to plug the hole left by the loss of television revenue and matchday income, and with a summer transfer window on the horizon it seems likely that selling off prized assets may be one way to soften the blow.
With some of the country’s top talent already in the crosshairs of Premier League sides, now, more than ever, some of them will be readily available with sellers significantly hampered by the need to raise cash and quick.
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Here, Sportsmail looks at the main targets who could be making their way to England in the midst of France folding its season.
Victor Osimhen (Lille)
One of the finds of the summer as director of football Luis Campos worked his magic once more for Lille, Victor Osimhen has been a revelation in Ligue 1.
The little-known forward was signed from Charleroi in the summer for around £11m and has fired in 13 goals for Les Douges.
That track record, as well as some impressive moments in Europe, have caught the eye of Liverpool, who have reportedly opened talks with the Nigerian representatives.
Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco)
Despite only joining Monaco last summer, Wissam Ben Yedder looks almost certain to move again 12 months on, following an incredible season in Ligue 1.
Joint-top of the scoring charts with Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, the 29-year-old has grabbed 18 goals for a side that has largely struggled despite the apparent talent at its disposal.
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And there is every chance that his next strike could come in England, with five of the top six linked with a move for the former Sevilla forward.
Only Chelsea are not credited with an interest in him, while Real Madrid are also thought to be keeping tabs on his situation.
Moussa Dembele (Lyon)
Continuously linked with a move to England’s top flight even before leaving Celtic for France in 2018, this summer could finally see the rumour become reality.
Manchester United have been scouting the 23-year-old ever since he made the move to the Groupama Stadium, and his 16 strikes this season in Ligue 1 will only have piqued their interest.
Chelsea have also been credited with a desire to bring the striker back across the channel, and while a price-tag of £83m has previously been mooted, that may well come down if Lyon need cash, and quick.
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Habib Diallo (Metz)
Despite spending last season in Ligue 2, Habib Diallo has made the transition to a top-flight striker look seamless in France.
The 24-year-old had been key in helping Metz keep their heads above water, grabbing 12 goals at a rate of just over one in every two matches.
That kind of form for a struggling side has caught the eye in England, with Chelsea linked with a £17m move for the Senegal international.
He had in January stated his desire to remain at Metz until the end of the season, but now that has been accelerated he could be tempted to try his luck outside of France.
Talk has been of a possible £65m swoop, but there is room to haggle given the Ligue 1 predicament.
Ibrahim Sangare (Toulouse)
It has been a miserable season for Toulouse, who have been sat rock-bottom of the Ligue 1 table for the duration of it.
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The premature end to the season is almost a relief, with their demotion to the second tier almost inevitable.
There have been few bright points for the beleaguered club, but the form of midfielder Ibrahim Sangare at least gave them some lift during the campaign.
With revenue now lost, and relegation to Ligue 2 looming, it is a near certainty that Sangare will be sold to help boost the coffers.
Still only 22, Sangare could be available for as little as £13m (€15m), and has previously been linked with a move to Everton.
Serhou Guirassy (Amiens)
In a team destined for the drop, nine goals is not a bad return.
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Serhou Guirassy has done his level best to keep Amiens from falling through the trapdoor in France this season, but it doesn’t look to be enough after the decision to end the season was made.
Needing the cash should they be demoted, there are other suitors, too, with Tottenham scouts having previously watched the striker in action, as well as Leicester City.
Boubakary Soumare (Lille)
Having turned down the chance to move to the Premier League in January, it appears that will almost certainly not be the case when clubs come calling for Boubakary Soumare this summer.
Newcastle United had a £35m bid accepted, only for the Lille midfielder to turn down the chance of the move and stay in France.
Having spent his entire career in France, Bouna Sarr may finally be about to set his sights on pastures new.
The 28-year-old wing-back has spent his professional career at just two clubs – Metz and Marseille – swapping the north of France for the south back in 2014.
Now appears an ideal time to broaden his horizons, with clubs in England, Germany and Spain all considering a move.
Everton and West Ham have both scouted the defender, according to L’Equipe, and the Premier League could prove an enticing option in the latter stages of his career.
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Ibrahima Diallo (Brest)
While a tad cliched, it is not without merit that Ibrahima Diallo has been likened to Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante.
His impressive displays over the last two seasons with Brest has seen several Premier League clubs linked with his signature, including Everton.
There is interest from both in France and elsewhere around Europe – with Sevilla heavily linked – but with a supposed valuation of around just £13m, English clubs would once again be well-placed for any bidding war involving the 21-year-old.
Abdoulaye Toure (Nantes)
Central midfielder Andoulaye Toure only took the captain’s armband at Nantes this season when Valentin Rongier left for Marseille, and he could soon be following his former team-mate out the door.
West Ham and Burnley have both been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old, who has done little to play down his ambitions of moving to a bigger club.
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Speaking to Onze Mondial earlier this year, he said: ‘I’ve made it clear that I wanted to leave, to discover something new.
‘I’m an ambitious person, so you have to go to bigger clubs and gain a little bit more perspective.’
Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing.
He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.
Lionel Messi will play his last game for Paris St Germain against Clermont on Saturday, coach Christophe Galtier said on Thursday as he called on fans to give the Argentine forward a warm send-off at the Parc des Princes.
Messi, who has 21 goals and 20 assists for PSG in all competitions this season, moved to the French capital from Barcelona in 2021 on a two-year contract.
The 35-year-old, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar and also boasts a record seven Ballon d’Or awards, won the Ligue 1 title in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with PSG as well as the French Super Cup in July 2022.
“I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes,” Galtier told reporters on Thursday.
Last month, French media reported that Messi was suspended for two weeks after an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia when he was supposed to train with his team following their 3-1 defeat at home to Lorient in the league.
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“This year, he has been an important part of the team, always available. I don’t think any of the comments or criticisms are justified,” Galtier said.
“He’s always been there for the team. It’s been a great privilege to accompany him throughout the season.”
Messi’s future at PSG had been the subject of much speculation recently, with a source close to the Argentina captain telling Reuters that he had received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season.
He has also been linked in the media with a move back to boyhood club Barcelona, with the United States’ Major League Soccer club Inter Miami also being touted as a possible destination.
PSG’S TITLE CELEBRATIONS ON HOLD
Messi’s last game for PSG is unlikely to be a joyous affair, with Galtier saying that their title celebrations would be put on ice with the distraught squad’s thoughts occupied with concern for goalkeeper Sergio Rico.
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Rico was involved in a riding accident while participating in an annual pilgrimage in southern Spain, the day after PSG wrapped up the title with one game to spare after a 1-1 draw at Racing Strasbourg.
Rico has been in intensive care after suffering “a serious mishap due to a mule cart and a horse that hit him”, his family said in a statement late on Sunday. Spanish paper Marca reported that Rico had been riding a horse himself.
“There will be no celebrations, it’s been a very difficult week. We’re all affected because we went from winning the French title on Saturday to waking up in more than a little pain on Sunday morning,” Galtier told reporters ahead of PSG’s final league game of the season.
“We’re all affected, and we’re trying as best we can to take our minds off things through the training sessions… We’re very united in sending out lots of positive vibes and energy to Sergio, his mum, his wife and his loved ones.”
Messi walks out on PSG fans after defeat Kunle Solaja
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Paris St Germain were lucky enough to enjoy the continued support of their fans during their 2-0 home defeat against Stade Rennais on Sunday – their first at home in Ligue 1 this season, but only a few players went to the Auteuil kop to greet them after a dismal display.
Kylian Mbappe was one of them after the France forward was denied twice by Rennes keeper Steve Mandanda, but Lionel Messi, who looked nothing like the player who inspired Argentina to the World Cup title last December, walked straight to the dressing room, as did the disappointing Marco Verratti.
PSG lead the standings on 66 points from 28 games with a seven-point advantage over Olympique de Marseille, who ended Stade de Reims’s 19-game unbeaten streak in the league with a 2-1 away win courtesy of an Alexis Sanchez double.
Neymar to leave hospital on Sunday after operation Kunle Solaja
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Brazil star Neymar will leave a Qatar sports hospital on Sunday to rest before starting rehabilitation after an operation on his ankle, officials said.
Doctors at the Aspetar hospital would not give a date when the 31-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker would return to action but they are confident that Friday’s surgery was a success.
PSG said before the operation the forward could be out for up to four months, ruling him out of the rest of this season.
“Neymar Junior was operated yesterday, it was very successful,” Mr Hakim Chalabi, assistant director-general at the Aspetar hospital and an adviser to PSG’s medical team, told AFP.
“Right now, he is very good and he is happy.
“He is not so painful and the surgeons who operated are very happy.”
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Neymar will leave the 50-bed specialist sports hospital on Sunday, officials said.
Mr Chalabi said that after a period of rest, PSG will start physiotherapy.
“Later on, we will evaluate a time for a return on the field. Right now it is a bit soon to talk about.
“He is going to be on crutches for a few days but then after he should be back to half weight lifting.”