5 Ligue 1 Players with Most to Gain from a January Transfer Move

Transfers have always been part of football culture and it’s no different in Ligue 1. France’s top division has always been a target for clubs around Europe, and this January will be no different.

Clubs are always looking to make moves during either transfer window. Whether it’s moving people on who are no longer needed, or to strengthen in important areas, looking to grow their club.

At times it is the players themselves that want to force a move, sometimes for money, success, or at times, just so they can find first-team football at a club interested in giving them another chance.

Here are 5 Ligue 1 players with most to gain from a January transfer.

Clement Chantome: Paris Saint-Germain

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Former Paris Saint-Germain youth player, Clement Chantome, has been one of the players most affected by the influx of stars at the Parc des Princes over the past few years.

Chantome is now 27 years old and has only made six appearances this season. The midfielder showed he still has the quality to be effective in Ligue 1 with last season's loan spell with Toulouse.

Lille and Bordeaux have been linked with the Parisian, per Eurosport France (h/t les-transferts.com), and both would be great places for Chantome to rebuild his career.

Daniel Wass: Evian Thonon Gaillard

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Over the past couple of seasons, Danish midfielder Daniel Wass has almost single-handedly saved Evian from relegation.

This season has been no different, his eight goals—only one fewer than his total last year—are one of the only reasons Les Roses aren't lower than 18th place.

With no disrespect to Evian, Daniel Wass deserves to be in a better team with higher quality players. There was speculation of interest in the summer, but now, at 25 years old, the time is right for Wass to move on.

Wissam Ben Yedder: Toulouse FC

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In 2014 alone, Toulouse striker Wissam Ben Yedder scored 18 league goals. The 24-year-old forward has been exceptional for Le Tefece over the past three seasons, but it could be time for the former futsal player to move his career to pastures new.

Alain Casanova's side are languishing in 14th place this season and are unlikely to qualify for the Europa League. In order to win a place in the France national team, Ben Yedder needs to take his game to another level, it is unlikely he can do that at Toulouse.

Gregoire Puel: OGC Nice

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

When your Dad is the head coach of your club, it is never easy for a player to get respect from his teammates. When it is done under the spotlight of the Ligue 1 cameras, the pressure is always going to be higher.

Despite some impressive performances this season, criticism has been heaped on Gregoire Puel, on and off the pitch. It won’t help that his father Claude has failed to get Nice above 12th place at the halfway stage of the season.

At the end of December, Get French Football News reported that the situation between the fans, manager and the player was no longer tenable.

The 22-year-old has made 57 appearances in Ligue 1, but if the right-sided player, who can play in midfield or defence, wants to be taken seriously, he needs to move from under his father's shadow.

Ezequiel Lavezzi: Paris Saint-Germain

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In 13 appearances, Ezequiel Lavezzi has only played 670 minutes for Paris Saint-Germain. He may have missed games through injury, but he has still only averaged 51.5 minutes per game.

After missing PSG's Moroccan training camp, his time in the capital looks to be coming to an end, and it would make perfect sense for all parties if the Argentine winger was to find first-team football outside of the French capital.

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According to @Gazzetta_it, #PSG will demand a €15 million fee if Ezequiel Lavezzi is to leave the club in January pic.twitter.com/Usdx6VuKxA

— Adam Digby (@Adz77) January 7, 2015"

Last season his performances in the second half of the season were crucial to PSG's success, but this year he has failed to yield the same influence.

Aged 29, he still has a number of years left at the top level, but as PSG look elsewhere, it's time Lavezzi did the same.