Last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up Monaco are seriously struggling to replicate their form from the past two campaigns.
The 2016/17 league winners are currently 18th after eight games and also lost their opening match in this season’s Champions League, leaving the door open for a new side to take over as Paris Saint-Germain’s closest competitors and potential dark horses.
And that team could just be Lyon.
Les Gones – meaning The Kids – are truly living up to their nickname with an exciting young squad, scoring goals with ease across all competitions last season – 114 in total.
It was the same with Monaco in 2016/17, when Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy and many more pushed Leonardo Jardim’s side to glory in Ligue 1 and to the Champions League semi-finals.
But that proved to be the problem for Monaco, with all of those having left the club over the past two years since their Ligue 1 title win – something Lyon may need to keep an eye out for.
Though Nabil Fekir stole the show for Lyon last season, earning him links with the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea, there were others who were just as good for Les Gones.
But who were they? Below are the five talented players we feel could turn Lyon into France’s next dark horses – and earn the club millions in the process.
1. Tanguy Ndombele
Age: 21
Position: Central midfielder
Signing for Lyon initially on loan in 2017, Tanguy Ndombele’s performances last season may have gone slightly under the radar of the wider public compared to his team-mates, but this year the midfielder is making his name known.
Making his move to Lyon permanent in the summer, Ndombele is already showing Les Gones how good he can be thriving as a box-to-box midfielder of sorts being compared to the likes of N’Golo Kante and Michael Essien – fitting given reported links to Chelsea.
His ball-carrying ability from deep in midfield is likely to catch the eye.
Key Stat: Only Jadon Sancho (five) has recorded more assists in Europe’s top five leagues than Tanguy Ndombele (four).
Potential price tag: ££££ (out of five)
2. Houssem Aouar
Age: 20
Position: Central midfielder
Lyon’s own product, having come through the club’s academy, Houssem Aouar is another talented midfielder playing for Les Gones, forming one of the most exciting young midfield duos in Europe alongside Ndombele.
But while Ndombele’s preferred position is set, Aouar has played in both central midfielder and as a winger-of-sorts so far this season, showing many sides to his game already.
More than happy to take on his man with dribbling, Aouar also has the eye for a pass and does not shy away when required to get back and help his team-mates defend.
Key Stat: Houssem Aouar has completed 64% of his 14 attempted take-ons in Ligue 1 so far this season.
Potential price tag: £££££
3. Bertrand Traore
Age: 23
Position: Forward
The ex-Chelsea man has really come into his own in this Lyon side, showing the Blues they may have made the wrong decision in letting him go.
Having joined Lyon from Chelsea last season, Traore scored 18 goals in all competitions to help Les Gones finish third in Ligue 1 and reach the Europa League last-16, forming a potent attack alongside Memphis Depay, Fekir and Mariano Diaz.
And this season has continued in the same vein, with Traore already on four goals and one assist across all competitions.
Key Stat: Bertrand Traore is Lyon’s top scorer across all competitions this season with four goals.
Potential price tag: £££
4. Ferland Mendy
Age: 23
Position: Left-back
The similarities between Lyon’s left-back Ferland Mendy and Monaco’s former man Benjamin Mendy go past just having the same surname.
Signed last summer from Le Havre, Mendy is a supremely attacking full-back with a tendency to beat his man before unleashing a testing cross into the box.
So far in Ligue 1 this season, Mendy has created seven chances the fourth highest of any defender in the division, sending in three crosses and recording one assist.
Key Stat: Ferland Mendy has completed more take-ons in Ligue 1 this season than any other defender (15).
Potential price tag: £££
5. Memphis Depay
Age: 24
Position: Forward
Another ex-Premier League star to be finding himself in Ligue 1, Memphis Depay has been arguably Lyon’s best player in their growth, scoring 28 goals in 78 games since signing from Manchester United in January 2017.
The Dutch forward scored 19 goals in Ligue 1 last season but that number often left many overlooking his creativity, recording 13 assists from 77 chances created.
And he has continued that into the current campaign, with two assists so far and 20 crosses, the most of any player in Europe’s top five leagues. Should Depay continue in this form, he may yet earn another big move.
Key Stat: Memphis Depay has created more chances (29) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Potential price tag: ££££
The post The five flourishing talents that could turn Lyon into 2016/17 Monaco appeared first on Squawka News.
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