'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It is that time of the year again, where the most competitive league in the world spends to get an edge over its rivals in the Premier League as well as Champions League.
World record transfers have become a norm in January with Fernando Torres' transfer to Chelsea and last season's transfer of Virgil Van Dijk to Liverpool coming to fore.
The Ligue 1 has historically provided the Premier League with top talents over the course of nearly a decade, from Robert Pires moving from Marseille to Arsenal to Didier Drogba's then world record transfer to Chelsea to Eden Hazard's landscape changing transfer again to the Premier League.
Last season the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea brought in Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Bakayoko from Ligue 1 clubs and the trend seems to continue this season as well.
Below we list the transfer targets currently playing for Lyon who look set to join the Premier League in the near future.
#1 Nabil Fekir
The Lyon attacker missed out on a £53 million transfer to Liverpool in the 11th hour last season. This time though, Chelsea look like the ones who are hot on the heels of the French World Cup winner with January transfer a real possibility.
The Lyon captain was perturbed at the start of the season after missing out on a move to Liverpool. Since then though, he has returned to his old form, scoring 6 goals and assisting a further 4 in all competitions. His most important goal this season was his 43rd-minute goal at Man City with Lyon winning that match 2-1 away from home.
Chelsea's interest in the Frenchman stems from the uncertainty regarding their star man Eden Hazard. Hazard has been very vocal in his admiration for Real Madrid. Maurizio Sarri's side have been linked to the whole host of stars around Europe with Fekir and Pulisic standout targets.
The 20-times capped French star's attributes mirror that of Hazard, with his low centre of gravity aiding his sudden burst of speed. The Algerian-born Fekir joined Lyon in 2013 and has gone on to become their star man, filling the void left by Karim Benzema after many years.
The 25-year old's versatility is the key, able to play as a striker as well on the wings making him an asset to any team.
Sarri is known to favour small players with technical ability, with Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard having had a great impact under the Tuscan's tutelage.
In the current transfer scenario, the £52 million fee for a winger as talented as Fekir seems like a bargain and it is highly plausible that under Sarri, Nabil Fekir could go on to have some of the best years of his career.
#2 Tanguy Ndombele
Tanguy Ndombele is the engine that keeps Lyon ticking week-in, week out. He has been virtually ever-present in this Lyon team, starting 15 matches in Ligue 1 and featuring in all Group stage Champions league matches.
The defensive midfielder is a beast, with his defensive prowess complementing his darting runs forward. It was rumoured that Manchester City had a €50 million bid rejected in the summer and it is no surprise that Guardiola still wants him as a replacement for Fernandinho.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have also been mentioned as possible destinations for the Congolese born powerhouse.
The French international completely dominated the City midfield over the course of a 2-legged tie in the Champions League. As such Guardiola has encouraged the City hierarchy to fund a move for him.
City's hierarchy - including Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Director of Football Txiki Begiristain were present at Lyon and as such initial talks might have already taken place.
The last time Pep Guardiola was defeated by a Ligue 1 team, he went ahead and picked them apart. When Monaco made City run-around in last 16 of 2017 Champions League, he immediately brought in Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy, only missing out on Kylian Mbappe due to his wish of joining PSG.
It seems highly likely that Lyon will be dealt with in the same way as their Ligue 1 rivals.
Given Ndombele's pace, physicality and technical ability, it would be a surprise if he doesn't adapt to the Premier league right away, in the process making the best team in the league even better.
#3 Houssem Aouar
Another Lyon star making waves across Europe is French international Houssem Aouar. The 20-year-old plays alongside Ndombele at the heart of Lyon midfield, but it is his versatility of playing further up that has heavyweights across Europe vying for him.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have all been impressed by his creativity and technical ability and are set to duke it out for his signature.
Arsenal are the latest club tracking, with the intention of signing him as a replacement for the departing Aaron Ramsey. Aouar, like Ramsey, has great passing and dribbling abilities but it is his timely Lampard-esque runs that make him dangerous for the opposition. He has already scored 6 goals and assisted a further 4 this season.
Liverpool has also been mentioned as one of the destinations for Aouar, considering they have not effectively replaced Coutinho since his departure to Barcelona. The 20-year-old had allegedly rejected the Reds in summer, in favour of developing further at his boyhood club.
Manchester City are believed to be firm favourites for his signature, having seen first-hand his talent and creativity. Pep Guardiola even hailed the French under-21 star as 'incredible' in his press conference.
Aouar, with his talents, will surely light up the Premier League and continue the French connection across the English channel.
#4 Ferland Mendy
Olympique Lyonnais have arguably one of the best left-backs in Ligue 1. Ferland Mendy has been in sensational form this season, much to the delight of transfer gurus across Europe.
Barcelona Sporting Director Eric Abidal has earmarked him as an understudy to Jordi Alba, with a view of succeeding the Spaniard. Frenchman Mendy has been ever-present for Lyon playing 1927 minutes already.
The Senegalese born left-back has already bagged an impressive 2 goals and 2 assists across all competitions this season.
He was called up to the France squad by Didier Deschamps after incumbent and namesake Benjamin Mendy was ruled out injured. He completed a full 90 minutes on his debut and looks like a threat for Manchester City man Benjamin Mendy and Atletico Madrid's Lucas Hernandez position in the French National team.
Arsenal have been talked about as serious potential employers of Ferland Mendy. With Nacho Monreal already 32 and with Arsenal's longstanding relationship with the French transfer market, this move looks like a no-brainer.
Mendy's impressive performances from wing-back position against Man City even has Arsenal fans hoping for them sign the French star.
