Almost a month after the start of the Ligue 1 season, the transfer window closed its doors on Thursday, September 1, with its share of surprises, bets or high-sounding names. For three months, clubs tried to adjust their squad by recruiting or getting rid of their unwanted players, for better and sometimes for worse.
France info: sports sifts through the transfer window of the 20 elite clubs in four categories: successful, we are waiting to see, they have not strengthened and disappointing.
They have succeeded in their transfer window
Like every season, the transfer window PSG is particularly scrutinized. This summer was no exception, especially as it marked the first of the era Luis Campos, the capital club’s new football adviser who arrived in June. His recruitment logically took on its tone with French players (Mukiele, Ekitike), familiar with Ligue 1 (Renato Sanches) and young players with significant resale potential (Vitinha, Fabian, Soler). Above all, the club managed to slim down a large part of its undesirables (Kehrer, Wijnaldum, Herrera, Draxler, Kurzawa, Gueye). 8/10.
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Wednesday August 31, lens achieved the biggest blow of its transfer window by extending its captain Seko Fofana until 2025, yet very coveted. The artesian club gave the impression of not undergoing this transfer window. The departures of Clauss, Doucouré and Kalimuendo were anticipated and were quickly compensated by similar profiles (Cabot, Abdul Samed and Openda) able to fit into Franck Haise’s game project. 8/10.
The Toulouse trademark has not changed after joining Ligue 1. Despite his promoted status, the TFC did not lose any of its major players, retaining its backbone, while making some adjustments by drawing from abroad. After the good pickaxes Van den Boomen, Healey and Ratao, Damien Comolli’s club continued its quest for nuggets abroad, at a lower price by seeking the Dutchman Dallinga, the Moroccan Aboukhlal, the Swedish Zandén, the Serbian Birmancevic or again the Greek Tsingaras. It remains to be seen whether these bets will pay off. 7/10.
For the Rennais Stadium, the last few hours have changed the game. The fourth of the last championship gave the impression of crossing a milestone in the transfer market, while retaining its best players (Traoré, Bourigeaud, Terrier). The Breton club have convinced the coveted Gouiri and Kalimuendo to sign, while solving the goalkeeper problem with the signing of experienced Steve Mandanda. A doubt remains on the central hinge, once again to be completely rebuilt around Rodon, Theate and Wooh. 7/10.
They have to convince
Some clubs have intrigued, surprised or sometimes surprised us and only time will tell if their choices have been relevant. The first name that comes to mind is Marseille Olympics whose workforce has been extremely upset with 11 recruits, but also the departure of an essential player like William Saliba and especially coach Jorge Sampaoli, who destabilized the team. The arrival of the Chilean Alexis Sanchez, passed by Barça, Inter or Arsenal, is the one that made the most noise, but the best shots could be on the sides, with the French international Jonathan Clauss and Nuno Tavares ( already author of 3 goals), very prominent at the start of the season. 6/10.
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At first sight, the recruitment of Brest looked great (Lees-Melou, Slimani, Pereira Lage, Karamoko Dembélé, Mahdi Camara) but it is struggling to bear fruit at the start of the season. Same as Reims where the good performances of Junya Ito and Folarin Balogun do not yet materialize on an accounting level and the loss of Wout Faes (Leicester) will not be easy to fill.
Troyes, Clermont and Auxerre have significantly changed their workforce. ESTAC had never been so active on the transfer market, signing eleven new players, including the young Wilson Odobert and the experienced Rony Lopes. The promoted Auxerrois welcomed many recruits whose performance in Ligue 1 is difficult to predict. The arrival of Benoît Costil as goalkeeper brings experience. For Clermont, the loss of the Hountondji-Abdul Samed-Bayo spine is significant. Many bets have still been made abroad, with the hope of a second consecutive maintenance. 5/10.
They don’t look like they got stronger
As announced, Lille was plucked this summer. Exit Sanches, Botman, Celik or Onana. In the other direction, Mohamed Bayo, Adam Ounas, Rémy Cabella and Jonas Martin have settled down in the North. Recruits not necessarily at the level of their predecessors, but who know Ligue 1. 4.5/10.
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HAS Nice, the 2022 transfer window has denied the bets on the future made since the takeover of the Gym by the Ineos group, with the departures of Dolberg, Gouiri and even Stengs. 12 recruits arrived, with more experienced players (Ramsey, Schmeichel, Laborde), but still this impression of fumbling. 4.5/10.
The departure of Armand Laurienté from Lorient, in the last hours of the transfer window, was less expected. The Merlus’ best player, essential at the start of the season, has not been replaced. He leaves a void in the workforce of Regis Le Bris, the new novice coach among the professionals. 4/10.
By losing Mollet and Ristic, Montpellier lost two incumbents. The good news is to have kept Téji Savanier. In terms of arrivals, three of the seven recruits experienced relegation with Saint-Etienne last season (Sacko, Khazri, Nordin), which is no guarantee of safety. 4/10.
HAS Strasbourg, the workforce has changed little, after having come close to Europe. Full-backs Anthony Caci and Frédéric Guilbert left the ship, replaced numerically by Thomas Delaine and Colin Dagba. Five recruits only and all for defensive purposes. 3.5/10.
Back in Ligue 1, Ajaccio did with his weapons to try to build an elite-level squad. The Corsican club has chosen the experience. Its most notable recruits are 35-year-old players (Mangani, Hamouma, Touzghar), players who we might have found on Ligue 2 lawns this season. 3.5/10.
They end the summer frustrated
For Antoine Kombouaré, the transfer market has not been a long calm river. HAS Nantes, the latter put pressure on his management and ended up succeeding in keeping Ludovic Blas, a file which created tensions to the point of jeopardizing the serenity gleaned thanks to the recent coronation in the Coupe de France. The Canaries have not been hyperactive on the market, recruiting by alterations with three attacking players (Ganago, Mohamed and Guessand) and the French international Moussa Sissoko. 4/10.
The departure of Lucas Paqueta to West Ham changes a lot of things in the transfer window of Olympique Lyonnais. The return to the club of Lacazette and Tolisso had excited the start of the summer, but the unexpected escape of the best player in the team leaves a big void. And after a failed season, the Rhone club failed to sell the players it wanted to part with (Aouar, Dembélé, Boateng). To play for the top of the rankings, there is always a lack of a winger, or even a central defender. 3.5/10.
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On the Côte d’Azur, not everything was rosy. HAS monaco, the big file concerned the succession of Aurélien Tchouaméni, who left for Real Madrid. If Mohamed Camara seems perfect to replace him, he arrived too late, once the qualification for the Champions League was missed. He is also the only player with high potential, with a view to resale, in the middle of a wise transfer window with only five recruits. 3.5/10.
The group from Angers has moved a lot with 13 arrivals. Especially the starting lineup no longer has the same face at all. The historical figures (Thomas, Traoré, Manceau, Mangani) and three of its best players (Ali-Cho, Fulgini, Cabot) have left the ship. Their replacements are not prime targets, which is already reflected in a disastrous start to the season (2 points in five games). 2/10.