2018/2019 Ligue 1 Preview Guide
2018/2019 LIGUE 1 PREVIEW GUIDE As Ligue 1 begins again, there is a rare air of expectancy. No, there haven’t been the sort of blockbuster transfers of the likes of Kylian Mbappé or Neymar, just the usual flow of some of the league’s best players to England and Spain, in the form of Malcom, Fabinho, Thomas Le- mar, Issa Diop, and others.But there have also been a number of brilliant signings made under the radar, and given the recent record of French clubs in turning young players around for con- siderable profit, the league’s official new slogan “The League ofalents” T may be more apt than the casual observer may realise. Paris Saint-Germain, of course, remain prohibitive favourites for the title, but have enough weaknesses, particularly at left back and in defensive midfield as new manager Thomas uchelT toys with the idea of a back three. Still, though, this marks a decided summer of change for the champions, for whom Gianluigi Buffon is their only signing, a marked contrast from previous spending. Still, though, a full season of Neymar and further development from Kylian Mbappé should leave them well-placed to repeat. Away from the capital, Lyon and Marseille haven’t experienced much in the way of movement, with both clubs losing only a few spare parts, as Nabil Fékir’s mooted move to Liverpool failed to come to fruition. The additions of Léo Dubois and Martin Terrier follow on from their recent trend (Lucas Tousart, Tanguy N’Dombélé) of buying young players from other clubs, hoping to reap the benefits by selling them on.
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