Attention French Clubs Playing in Europe next Year: This is who you Need

By: Sam | June 17th, 2007

The three top finishers are going to the Champions League, the fourth is going to the UEFA Cup, the fifth to the Intertoto Cup, and sixth and seventh, who are conveniently the cup winners, finished just outside the Europe-bound top 5 and are also heading to the UEFA Cup. Here, I have taken all these seven clubs and picked one player from wherever that they need to get (realistically) to make me proud in Europe next year. Starting from the top.

LYON (1st, Champions League) needs JOHN PAINTSIL (West Ham). Well, they don’t need him, but I think it’d be cool to see him at Lyon. With Abidal leaving and me not being a fan of what they’ve got back there, I find he’d be a good fit. He only played five games with the Hammers and he’s looking for a transfer. If there’s a good price floating around, why not?

MARSEILLE (2nd, Champions League) needs EDMILSON (Barcelona). Desperately wanting a defender with CL experience, this could be who they need. What’s more, with Marca writing that he’s more than open to the transfer and Pape Diouf wanting to get his deals done as early as possible, it just may happen in the next week or two. Rodriguez and him could work well together, with Zubar having a bit of a learning year.

TOULOUSE (3rd, Champions League qualifying) needs EMERSE FAÉ (Nantes). Why? He’s too good to play in Ligue 2. An international with Côte d’Ivoire, he’s the guy Téfécé need to bolster their so-so midfield. Fabinho, Mansaré and Mathieu aren’t nearly enough to make a splash.

RENNES (4th, UEFA Cup) needs ÉRIC CUBILIER (Nantes). Once again, a guy of experience is going to have to move to avoid playing in the second division. And with Melchiot leaving, he’d be a very reasonable full-back to approach and would work well with the likes of Mensah and Edman.

LENS (5th, Intertoto Cup) needs MAMADOU SAMASSA (Le Mans). Their defense is too weak, the only big names being Demont and Hilton. This young man, newly appointed youth international, has had a remarkable season with MUC, and could benefit from this transfer.

BORDEAUX (6th, won Coupe de la Ligue, UEFA Cup) needs SERGE GAKPÉ (Monaco). Monaco already has Menez, they can shed a youth international, especially one that’s been itching to leave. And with Bordeaux being the most boring team to watch in the history of the world, they need a young buck like Gakpé.

SOCHAUX (7th, won Coupe de France, UEFA Cup) needs DAVID HELLEBUYCK (PSG). After moving to the capital and having a crap season, he’s going to leave, and people are looking at Nice. I say look to Sochaux, they need a good midfielder to replace Karim Ziani, who is poised to leave soon.

There you have it. Who do you think they should get?