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Ligue 1 has always been a great hunting ground for the Premier League clubs. Players too numerous to mention have crossed the English Channel and have found success.
Presently, every single club in England’s premier division with the exception of Burnley have players from Ligue 1 in their teams.
From league leaders, Manchester City to bottom-placed Fulham, the Premier League has a distinctly French feel to it.
The January transfer window is expected to be once again dominated by the English teams. With certain teams struggling in the lower reaches of the table, the spending may
Here is a look at 5 top Ligue 1 prospects and the Premier League clubs they could join in January:
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#5 Benjamin Heinrichs (AS Monaco to Chelsea)
Chelsea have had a brilliant start to the season unbeaten after 12 matches and just 4 points off first-placed Manchester City. Improvements in defence, better use of the ball and an on-fire Eden Hazard have been important factors in the Blues' resurgence.
However, in recent weeks, certain areas of the team have looked creaky and may warrant a look-in for January. Despite Maurizio Sarri's preference for speedy, attacking fullbacks, Spanish internationals Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta have been the preferred options.
Azpilicueta remains one of the best defenders/crossers of the ball in the entire league. However, he has never been the fastest and with Alonso equally not blessed with pace, Chelsea has had issues attacking and defending down the flanks.
Enter the young German international. Henrichs only joined Monaco in the summer in a £18m deal from Bayer Leverkusen. However, the team's troubles have seen him play both as a right and left back.
He has shown his capability by playing 17 times so far with a goal and an assist. A speedy defender, he is as good going forward as he is comfortable defending.
His combination of speed and aggressiveness would be a boon for Sarri's side as it would provide an additional attacking outlet, especially in tight matches. He would be able to get up and down the Chelsea right flank. This may help the team be less susceptible to counter attacks.
#4 Malang Sarr (OGC Nice to Manchester United)
Manchester United are in desperate need of a centre-back, that much is obvious. The Red Devils have conceded 21 goals so far this season, same as 17th placed Southampton.
The fall from last season's 2nd best defence to basket case has been alarming. This is, after all, a team coached by Jose Mourinho; the love child of defensive rigidity and solidity.
Mourinho's attempts at getting a big name in the summer were rebuffed by vice-chairman Ed Woodward. This was due to the age, price tag and zero-resale value of the Special One's rumoured targets; Toby Aldeweireld, Harry Maguire, Jerome Boateng among others.
An answer that would please both men is shining in the French Riveria. Sarr has been an ever-present for Nice since he broke out aged just 16. A left-footed 19-year-old, the player is a tough tackling player who is great in the air and is aggressive in his play (a trait Mourinho loves).
The performances of the Aymeric Laporte-John Stones duo for Manchester City would have been an eye opener for the Portuguese tactician. Sarr's adaptability and style are similar to Laporte's. He could be the one to provide the much-needed balance and calm to a beleaguered United defence
An ever-present in Patrick Vieira's team so far, the U-21 French international will not come cheap if the Red Devils are to move for him. He could be the answer to a desperate prayer if the move transpires.
#3 Nicolas Pépé (Lille OSC to Arsenal)
One of Ligue 1's hottest prospects, Pépé has really lit up France this season. Following his £10m move to Lille from Angers last season, much was expected of him.
However, the failure of the Marcelo Bielsa experiment and the team's flirtation with relegation meant that he was stuck in the lower reaches of the table. His quality still shone through as he scored 13 goals and made 2 assists despite the team's troubles.
Pépé has been on fire this season. Playing on the right of Christophe Galtier's preferred 4-3-3 formation, the Ivory Coast international has been the go-to guy. 8 goals and 7 assists in 13 games tell the story of a winger in the form of his life.
This makes him perfect for what Arsenal need. Manager Unai Emery has been forced to play striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the left to accommodate Alexandre Lacazette as the lone striker. This has not helped the Gabonese striker be effective.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been anonymous while Alex Iwobi has shone playing in a more central role. Pépé's pace, dribbling, and decision-making will be of great benefit to an Arsenal side with Top 4 and Europa League aspirations.
With a host of top European clubs being linked to him, Emery and the Arsenal board will have to move fast to get one of the continent's best wingers
#2 Tanguy Ndombele (Olympique Lyonnais to Manchester City)
Tanguy Ndombele has had a barnstorming season so far and looks like he is destined to end up at the top level of world football.
Such was his performance on loan at Lyon last season, the club's president, Jean-Michel Aulas wasted no time in paying the €8m needed to make his transfer permanent.
Guardiola's men have continued in the same imperious manner with which they brushed everyone aside last season. The 3-1 victory in the Manchester Derby was a confirmation of the level at which the team is currently performing.
Fernandinho has been at the heart of everything the Cityzens have done well. Despite that, a bit of rotation will be needed to ensure the team's level does not drop. This is where Ndombele comes in.
A brilliant midfielder, the French international has operated at the base of Les Gones' midfield. Holding the fort for Bruno Genesio's attack-minded team, he has been imperious in his tackling, making an average of 2.1 successful tackles per game.
Guardiola loves his players to be intelligent users of the ball in whatever position they find themselves. This is something the 21-year-old has been very good at.
He is also excellent at passing, winning the ball in deep positions and driving forward. His quality passing can be seen from the fact that he already has 4 assists. He has been repeatedly linked with the Premier League champions.
His quality means he could be one to slot in straight and offer Fernandinho time to rest.
#1 Memphis Depay (Olympique Lyon to Tottenham Hotspur)
A player who is no stranger to the Premier League, Depay's arrival at Manchester United was greeted with lots of optimism.
His pace, strength, elusiveness, and skills reminded many Red Devil fans of Cristiano Ronaldo when he arrived from PSV in 2015 for £25m. It didn't work out under Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. This led to him joining Les Gones for £16m in 2017.
He has since matured and looks set to make a return to England and show what he is truly made of. His abilities and Spurs' style under Mauricio Pochettino might make this a perfect match.
Despite not buying anyone in the summer, stadium issues and injuries, Spurs are still 4th in the Premier League. Topshot Harry Kane has continued to be among the goals with the supporting cast chipping in as well. The Lilywhites have lacked an alternative to the England captain as the likes of Clinton Njie, Lucas Janssen, and Fernando Llorente have flopped at the club.
Depay has played as a striker in Lyon and for Holland and has shone for both teams. His pace and skill mean he can play a similar role for Spurs. Even if Kane were to start, Depay could equally start on the wing.
He is a better goalscorer than Lucas Moura and more skilful than Heung Min-Son. The Dutchman could be the missing ingredient for Pochettino's team pushing for a major trophy. He is the kind of devil-may-care talent that have shone well under the Argentine manager at Tottenham, see Dele Alli for example.
He will not come cheap. However, his versatility and abilities mean he could play a variety of roles effectively for a Spurs team missing an X-Factor player of his calibre.
