Layvin Kurzawa and 10 Young French Talents Ready for a Transfer
AS Monaco's Layvin Kurzawa is one of the latest in a long line of talented Frenchmen linked with a move away from Ligue 1, but he is not alone.
France's top flight has always been an excellent source of fantastic young players for the English Premier League and the other top leagues in Europe.
Look around most of the top sides in the Champions League and you will see a smattering of talent that has come through the ranks of various French clubs, such as Franck Ribery at Bayern Munich, Jeremy Mathieu at Barcelona and Karim Benzema at Real Madrid.
Here is more about Kurzawa and 10 other young French talents ready for a transfer.
Layvin Kurzawa: AS Monaco
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After making his full debut for the France national team at the end of 2014, Layvin Kurzawa's stock has never been higher.
AS Monaco have been enjoying his rampaging runs from left-back for the last few years, but he could soon be dazzling Premier League fans.
Manchester City were rumoured to have met the French left-back last month. He was invited to watch the Champions League game against Bayern Munich, via Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star, but apparently he watched it in a Manchester hotel instead as they tried to keep it a secret.
There is no doubt the full-back is good enough to make the jump to England. His left foot is deadly, he can burst forward to not only create but score goals, and he is strong enough to withstand the physical battles the Premier League would bring.
Jordan Ferri: Olympique Lyonnais
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With injuries to both Yoann Gourcuff and Clement Grenier, Lyon boss Hubert Fournier has been forced to give youngsters a chance this season.
After breaking through last season, Jordan Ferri has continued to impress this campaign. He is everything you want in a midfielder: tough in the tackle, a hard worker and with the ability to see and deliver decisive passes.
With Gourcuff and Grenier set to return to the first team in the new year, Ferri may have to move on to continue his development.
Prince Oniangue: Stade de Reims
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Last season, dynamic midfielder Prince Oniangue scored 10 goals in what was a very impressive season for the mid-table club.
Allowed to make runs from deep, the Paris-born Oniangue became one of the most dangerous box-to-box players in Ligue 1.
Under new boss Jean-Luc Vasseur, the 26-year-old hasn't come close to finding the same form, with only two goals in 17 games this season.
He may be the wrong side of 25, but he has been a late bloomer. Oniangue still has the quality to thrive; it just needs to be in the right system. Unfortunately, that may have to be at a different club.
Raphael Guerreiro: FC Lorient
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This has been a huge year for FC Lorient's Raphael Guerreiro. His play for the Breton club has taken his game to another level.
Moving from left-back to left midfield has opened up endless possibilities for the 20-year-old. His play even led to his debut for Portugal against Argentina.
Not satisfied with his first cap, he scored the winning goal in that match at Old Trafford. He has started every game for Lorient this season, and his four goals have been crucial to Les Merlus.
Born in France, his Portuguese father will be delighted to see his son represent the country of his birth. Guerreiro is definitely one that got away from the France setup, and it is only a matter of time until the bigger clubs around Europe start to show an interest.
N'Golo Kante: SM Caen
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Since making the jump from Ligue 2 to the top division in France, no one has adapted better at SM Caen than N’Golo Kante.
The 23-year-old midfielder has shown superb qualities as Caen's all-action box-to-box dynamo. Charging forward to score twice early in the season, but overall it has been his strong physical play that has impressed.
According to WhoScored.com, no one in Ligue 1 has made more tackles than Kante. Caen president Xavier Gravelaine, via LesEchos.fr (in French), knows he will struggle to keep a hold of his talented young star, but he will hope he can stave off suitors until the summer.
Youssouf Sabaly: Evian Thonon Gaillard
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It feels like a very long time since Youssouf Sabaly joined Evian Thonon Gaillard on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. Last season the full-back was superb as he helped play a part in their survival campaign.
Able to play on the left and the right, Sabaly has the ability to play for any side in Ligue 1, perhaps bar his parent club.
The side from the capital already have two established and two promising young full-backs in their squad, so it is unlikely, especially with the move to sign Serge Aurier from Toulouse, that Sabaly will ever find a place in the PSG XI.
Jordan Veretout: FC Nantes
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With FC Nantes under a transfer embargo, they weren't able to sign any reinforcements this summer. Coach Michel Der Zakarian has had to rely on making loan signings permanent and their successful youth academy.
One of their best prospects is 21-year-old Jordan Veretout. Part of the France under-20 world champions, the midfielder has blossomed this season, adding goals and creativity to his hard work and ability to protect the defence.
This season Veretout has helped Nantes with six goals and three assists. Nantes may have to sell one of their prize assets to help fund moves in the future, and young Veretout, although it would be devastating to the team's quality, is the one player that is ready to step up his game.
Alphonse Areola: SC Bastia
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Alphonse Areola was the hero as France under-20 side won the World Cup in Turkey in 2013. He had made some outstanding saves in the earlier games, but his penalty stops against Uruguay in the final were crucial.
He followed that up with first-team football, helping RC Lens gain promotion to Ligue 1 with his first loan spell away from Paris Saint-Germain.
Investment issues meant that the northern club couldn't re-sign the young goalkeeper for this campaign, so he moved to join former PSG coach Claude Makelele at Bastia instead.
With Salvatore Sirigu firmly established as the capital club's No. 1 and the rumours linking PSG with Hugo Lloris, via Tony Stenson of the Daily Star, it's hard to see Areola ever being PSG's first choice.
The France under-21 goalkeeper has a long bright future ahead of him, but he may have to do it away from the capital to progress further.
Jean-Christophe Bahebeck: Paris Saint-Germain
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After two poor loan spells away from Paris Saint-Germain, there were doubts that Jean-Christophe Bahebeck would ever make it as a forward at the Parisian club.
However, his excellent pre-season—scoring five goals in five games—showed he had the ability to back up the early promise he displayed as a teenager.
Bahebeck's problem will always be trying to break through at PSG. He is not a marquee name, he doesn't sell shirts and there will always be the temptation to buy someone, rather than give him a sustained run in the side.
Despite impressing off the bench and injuries to Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Bahebeck has only played 414 minutes this season. He has two goals in 10 appearances. If not appreciated and trusted in Paris, it looks like it is time to move on permanently.
Nampalys Mendy: OGC Nice
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When Nampalys Mendy was part of Claudio Ranieri's successful Monaco side that won promotion back from Ligue 2. The Italian coach was known to be a huge fan.
As the Monegasque side brought in superstars, Mendy was one of the first to leave the club, Nice being the grateful beneficiaries.
The 22-year-old has been superb for Claude Puel's team. Despite being small, he is very combative and is rarely outmuscled in the middle of the park. Nice have failed to push on since they finished fifth two seasons ago, and a few of the club's players have stalled in their progress.
If Mendy wants to continue to develop, he needs to move away from the Cote d'Azur and test himself at a bigger club in a stronger competition.
Gilles Sunu: FC Lorient
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Although he never actually made a first-team appearance for Arsenal, Gilles Sunu was regarded as a bright young prospect. His loan spell at Lorient was made permanent, but in four seasons, he has only made 64 appearances.
There have been some great moments, but more often than not, the consistency has been lacking in his play. Lorient is always looking to develop youth, and there are players coming through who show more promise than what Sunu is currently showing.
The former Arsenal man is still only 23 years old, so there is time for him to come good, but with the likes of Raphael Guerreiro, Mathias Autret and Bryan Pele developing well, his future looks to lie away from the Stade du Moustoir.
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