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The summer transfer window has always been unpredictable with no one being able to identify a pattern of success and failure. Even this season, some big-money signings have set the world alight while some have failed miserably.
On the other hand, a few unknown quantities have arrived for meagre sums and made the world take notice whereas some footballers’ signings remain as much a mystery today as on the day of their acquisition.
However, with just a quarter of the season remaining, the time is ripe to cast one’s verdict on which signing falls under which category.
The current piece concerns itself with the players who ply their trade in the Ligue 1, following moves in the summer and have established themselves as vital cogs in their respective sides’ wheel.
Without further ado, here is a look at five high-profile signings that have enjoyed a great season so far:
#5. Juan Bernat (Paris Saint-Germain)
Juan Bernat has been a part of the European royalty for the better part of this decade. Having represented Bayern Munich since 2014, the Spaniard decided to move to the biggest club in France in the summer of 2018: Paris Saint-Germain.
The full-back’s arrival came as a welcome boost for Thomas Tuchel as the former helped soften the blow of Layvin Kurzawa’s injury.
Since his acquisition, the Spaniard has been sensational. Capable of playing as a conventional full-back and a wing-back, Bernat has allowed Tuchel the option of implementing different systems. Moreover, the defender’s versatility has ensured that PSG have always had several alternatives to choose from.
A marauding full back by nature, Bernat has enjoyed the increased attacking freedom accorded to him. The Spaniard has developed a superb partnership with Angel Di Maria on the flanks with the duo’s link-up play a sight to behold.
However, the most impressive facet of his game this term has been his defensive solidity. Through the season, he has averaged 2.1 tackles per game to supplement the 1.4 clearances per game.
For years, PSG’s attacking players have hogged the limelight and rightly so. Yet, this season, it is a defensive addition that has made them a much tougher nut to crack.
Unsurprisingly, Bernat slots into our list at No.5.
#4. Moussa Dembele (Lyon)
The striker made his way across the channel to Lyon in the summer from Celtic. Since arriving on French shores, Dembele has given a good account of himself and has gone on to become an important component of Lyon’s effervescent attack.
In 16 league starts this season, the Frenchman has made the net bulge on 12 occasions. The striker has averaged a goal every 130 minutes in the Ligue 1, thus, making him one of the more prolific forwards in the land. In addition, he has also bagged three assists.
Apart from the sheer number of assists and goals, Dembele’s movement has caused opposition teams problems. Blessed with pace to burn, the striker has stretched defences and enabled the likes of Nabil Fekir space and time to flourish.
Though his link-up play still needs some ironing, there is no denying that Lyon have a gem among their ranks. At 22 years of age, the Frenchman has the potential to blossom into one of the top-drawer strikers in the world and his displays in France have only stoked that fire.
Thus, Dembele makes it to our list at No.4.
#3. Max Alain-Gradel (Toulouse)
Max Alain-Gradel embraced the Ligue 1 as part of a loan deal last season from Bournemouth. The Ivory Coast international impressed in 2017-18 and scored 8 goals for the French side in the league. Subsequently, his deal was made permanent in the summer of 2018. Since then though, the winger has taken his game up a notch and has been simply brilliant.
In 28 league appearances, he has made the net ripple 10 times while also providing 4 assists. Additionally, he has produced an average of 2.4 dribbles per game and 1.5 key passes. Hence, suggesting that the forward has contributed a lot more than just goals.
Moreover, the Ivory Coast international hasn’t been afraid to roll up his sleeves and do the dirty work. In the Ligue 1, he has made 1.8 tackles per game and has been on hand to help out defensively.
At this juncture, Toulouse find themselves languishing in 14th place in the league. However, things could’ve been a lot worse if not for their talismanic winger.
Though Gradel’s summer signing might not have been splashed across the back pages in France, his performances this term have surely gotten him the headlines.
Thus, he rounds off the top three of our list.
#2. Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon)
Tanguy Ndombele has courted an enormous amount of attention over the past couple of seasons. And his scintillating performances, especially this term, explain why.
Having played on loan at Lyon last term, he made his transfer permanent in 2018. Since the start of the 2018-19 season, the Frenchman has appeared 25 times in the Ligue 1 and garnered 6 assists on the way. In addition, he has completed 56.8 passes per game at an astonishing accuracy rate of 89.2%.
An imposing figure in the centre of the park, Ndombele has been a tough proposition to tackle in midfield. The Frenchman averages 2 tackles per game and is difficult to get past.
Moreover, his box-to box abilities have come to the fore recently with his lung-bursting runs a prominent feature of his game-play.
A strong runner with the ball, the Frenchman seems to possess the required tools to transform into one of the ace midfielders on the planet.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that he takes the runner up spot on our list.
#1. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
The only contention before slotting in Kylian Mbappe at the top of our list was whether his transfer was confirmed this summer. Once that hurdle was overcome, there was never any doubt who would sit at the perch.
Through the season, the forward has scaled seemingly insurmountable peaks with his goal-scoring on par with some of the world’s elite marksmen. In the league alone, the Frenchman has scored 26 times in 23 appearances with an astounding ratio of a goal every 71.65 minutes. To supplement his goal-scoring heroics, Mbappe has also captured 6 assists.
Though everyone knew the forward was destined for great things in the future, the maturity he has shown at 20 years of age has left everyone spell-bound. The Frenchman has displayed exemplary composure and ruthlessness in the final third. Moreover, he has showcased the hunger to keep improving every week and has not rested on his laurels.
PSG has missed the services of Edinson Cavani and Neymar for a major part of their season. Yet, with Mbappe in such form, they’ve barely left ruing the aforementioned pair’s absence.
While comparisons with a certain Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could just be a little premature for now, there would certainly be no arguing Mbappe’s place among the pantheon of greats if he can keep up the quality of his performances in the coming years.
Hence, the Frenchman takes the numero uno spot on our list.
