5 Foreign Players Who Could Be Headed to Ligue 1 This Summer

Most of the time when the summer transfer window rolls around the main discussion surrounds which players will be leaving Ligue 1 but while an exodus of top players will undoubtedly be of concern for a number of clubs, it is likely that a number of stars from other leagues will be coming in the other way.

Indeed, the spending power of Paris Saint-Germain and now Monaco looks set to attract more big names to France's top tier, with a multitude of big names linked with a move to the division's two financial powerhouses.

The reputations of Marseille and Lyon will always be a draw for the slightly lesser names, and therefore, it promises to be another busy window across the country.

Speculation will always be rife in transfer season, but who are the foreign players that appear destined to choose Ligue 1? Bleacher Report looks at five men who look set to make the move to Le Championnat.

Wayne Rooney

Disgruntled, outcast and reportedly severely unsettled at Manchester United, Wayne Rooney is, according to The Sun, a player angling for a move away.

The England international has been the subject of speculation throughout this season, with the 27-year-old supposedly unhappy at being, pushed out of the United starting XI by Robin van Persie despite playing for a team which won the Premier League title.

David Moyes' introduction as Sir Alex Ferguson's replacement is unlikely to improve Rooney's relationship with the Old Trafford club. The new man at the helm on the red half of Manchester is not known for seeing eye-to-eye with Rooney following past disagreements during their time together at Everton, and a change of scenery may well be the best option for the striker.

One club certainly interested in offering Rooney an escape route is Paris Saint-Germain,The Guardian reports that the club's Qatari owners are willing to match his wages at United and appear to have their heart set on bringing the Liverpool-born forward to the Parc des Princes.

Family concerns may play a part in Rooney's eventual decision, but having seen the success of David Beckham at PSG, and with English speakers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gregory van der Wiel embedded within the squad in Paris, the French capital club's quest to secure European glory could be the perfect new challenge for the England star.

Falcao

It had long been presumed that if Atletico Madrid striker Falcao was to leave the club, it would be for their city rivals Real or another of football's great European footballing institutions.

However, that presumption has since been subverted, with newly-promoted Monaco, to the shock of everyone in the game, reportedly holding the inside track on securing the Colombian's services.

Monaco's status as a club owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev but yet exempt from the same tax rules as the rest of the clubs in the French league system has caused much controversy, and the Stade Louis II outfit are currently locked in a legal dispute with the country's governing body, who have demanded the Ligue 2 champions to relocate, pay €200m to remain at their current location or face expulsion from Ligue 1 (NBC Sports).

That has not deterred Monaco though, and they appear set to launch an assault of top-flight and eventual European success with a spending spree which looks set to threaten PSG's superiority.

Falcao is at the top of Rybolovlev's shopping list and, although suggestions that Falcao's move to the Cote d'Azur is a done deal remain unconfirmed, it appears to be only a matter of time before he is playing in the red and white stripes of the principality club.

Stevan Jovetic

After narrowly missing out on Champions League football with present club Fiorentina last week, attacking midfielder Stevan Jovetic is a highly-rated player expected to be on the move this summer.

The Montenegrin has enjoyed an excellent season, notching 13 goals and providing five assists, but it was not enough to ensure a top-three spot for the Tuscan outfit, and the vultures are now likely to start circling.

Arsenal had reportedly been the club holding the most interest in Jovetic, but after Fiorentina's sporting director described their interest as "non-existent" (ESPN), the likes of PSG and Monaco could well be able to strike and move in for the 23-year-old.

Jovetic is likely to want to move to a team in Europe's premier club competition; therefore, PSG would be the likely front-runners from a French perspective.

Javier Pastore, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Jeremy Menez all possess the tools to break down defenses; however at times this season, the champions have appeared to lack a plan B. Jovetic's presence could provide them with an exciting new option next campaign.

Dani Alves

After promising young right-back Nampalys Mendy revealed his desire to leave Monaco (TeamTalk), Claudio Ranieri's men could well be in the market for a new right-back.

The 2004 Champions League finalists can hardly be considered to be short of cash, and therefore they are far from limited in terms of their remit if they are to look for a replacement for the 20-year-old defender.

One player to be linked with a move to the Stade Louis II is Barcelona full-back Dani Alves, who, despite enjoying great success with the Catalan giants, refused to refute suggestions he could be primed for a move from the Camp Nou (Goal).

Monaco would likely have to pay both big money and big wages to land the Brazilian and could face competition from PSG for his services, but with finances no problem for the seven-time Ligue 1 champions, do not be surprised if Alves decides to trade Spain for France.

Edinson Cavani

One of the most sought after players in world football, Edinson Cavani is likely to have a number of suitors come the summer.

The Uruguayan was said to have agreed a deal with Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the season (Metro); however, those rumors proved to be unfounded, and now deposed Premier League champions Manchester City are said to be holding in an interest in his services (Metro).

Both City and PSG have lured players from Serie A in recent seasons, but the Parisians greater progress in this season's Champions League could well prove crucial if Cavani is left to make a head-to-head choice between the two teams.

The presence of former AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti may well have had an influence on Cavani's decision, but with the Italian expected to leave at the end of the season, one of the first tasks for PSG's new manager could be to convince Cavani to choose the Parc des Princes outfit as his newest club.