Kylian Mbappé: Monaco 18

It is difficult to understate the impact Kylian Mbappé’s clinical finishing, terrifying pace and prodigious skill have had this season. His emergence at the turn of the calendar year was the catalyst for Monaco as they turned on the afterburners and intensified their already scintillating form, taking the Ligue 1 title and galloping into the Champions League semi-finals. At just 18, he became the only man to score in his first four Champions League knockout games. He also scored 15 goals in 17 appearances in Ligue 1 and laid on eight assists. Young players regularly burst on to the scene in France – Sofiane Boufal and Ousmane Dembélé were the trailblazers last season – but Mbappé is on another planet entirely. His fluid, graceful style and unerring finishing draw natural comparisons with Thierry Henry. Yet, his warp-speed acceleration and ability to bamboozle defenders make him more like a young Ronaldo. The Brazilian was nicknamed “The Phenomenon”; it might be time to pass on that sobriquet.

Interested: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid

Estimated value: €150m

Joris Gnagnon: Stade Rennais, 20

This season has been a frustrating one for Rennes. They sold both of their wingers – prize asset Paul-Georges Ntep to Wolfsburg and longtime super-sub Kamil Grosicki to Hull City – and did not replace either of them. They finished ninth, without a place in Europe, but the development of 20-year-old defensive powerhouse Joris Gnagnon gave the club a rare bright spot. Gnagnon’s impressive physique is a clear asset but he has also proven to be an intelligent and wily operator, exhibiting superb positional play, anticipation and an astute ability to cover for his colleagues. With manager Christian Gourcuff now describing him as the leader of Rennes’ back four, bigger clubs are circling. Holding on to Gnagnon this summer will be a serious challenge for a side without clear ambitions for the forthcoming campaign. A sizeable offer may be inevitable and impossible to turn down.

Interested: Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Chelsea, Inter, Sevilla, Tottenham.

Estimated value: €25m

Jean-Michaël Seri: Nice, 25

Jean-Michaël Seri celebrates after scoring for Nice against Nancy in Ligue 1. Photograph: Yann Coatsaliou/AFP/Getty Images

Monaco have Fabinho, Paris Saint-Germain have Marco Verratti, and Nice have Jean-Michaël Seri. Fabinho and Verratti dictated play for the top two clubs in Ligue 1 this season and the Ivorian did the same for Nice. He should be considered as on par with the Brazilian and Italian as a deep-lying playmaker and passer. Seri can pick up the ball from his centre-backs and either command the pace and direction of play with his passing and close control or drive the team forwards with a sharp dribble. He racked up 10 assists in the league this season, further underlining his influence in the final third. Seri very rarely gives away the ball, even when under the pressure of a hounding, aggressive press. He has a knack for calmly wriggling away from danger or nonchalantly picking the perfect pass to negate the threat. With a €40m release clause (in theory banned by the LFP but still legally binding by taking advantage of loopholes), he has interested some of Europe’s richest clubs.

Interested: Arsenal, Roma, Barcelona, PSG, Tottenham.

Estimated value: €40m

Corentin Tolisso: Lyon, 22

Cut adrift of the Champions League places and embarrassed by Ajax in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, this has been an underwhelming season for Lyon. There have, however, been bright spots: Alexandre Lacazette’s phenomenal goal tally, young Lucas Tousart’s emergence at the base of the midfield and Mathieu Valbuena’s resurgence have all stood out, but Corentin Tolisso’s breakthrough campaign has topped them all. The 22-year-old is comfortable playing as a holding, central or attacking midfielder and his understanding with Lacazette has been the key to anything positive Bruno Génésio’s team have done this season. Perhaps most impressive is his ability to play insightful, deft throughballs, expertly judging the timing and weight of passes and selecting the right option on the counter. If Juventus follow through on their interest, he will be extremely difficult to replace at the Parc OL. Having rejected Napoli’s bid of €37.5m for Tolisso last summer, Lyon President Aulas will be ready for tough negotiations.

Interested: Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus, Manchester City, Inter, Tottenham.

Estimated Valuation: €50m

Ryad Boudebouz: Montpellier HSC, 27

Ryad Boudebouz is quite simply far too accomplished to be playing for Montpellier. The club meandered in the lower echelons of mid-table this season but, without his goals and creativity, they might have been relegated. His skill, vision, ability on the ball, eye for goal and trademark swish of the hips have made him an under-appreciated delight in Ligue 1. Montpellier have little chance of holding on to him this summer. His form had fluctuated from the sublime to the anonymous during spells at SC Bastia and Sochaux, but his talent has finally won out and, at 27, he has entered his prime. A top-six club will snap him up this summer – assuming they are not beaten to it by a foreign giant.

Interested: Lazio, Lyon, Newcastle United, Nice, Schalke.

Estimated value: €15m

Alexandre Lacazette: Lyon, 26

The time has come for Alexandre Lacazette to leave France. Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images

Alexandre Lacazette’s form, sharpness and goalscoring have fluctuated frustratingly in the past but, as this season got into its stride, so too did the Lyon forward. Lacazette exemplifies the possible path that promising Ligue 1 players can take if they are not rushed out of the door as soon as they show some semblance of quality. The 26-year-old now emerges as a very complete article after enjoying his most assured and consistent season to date. His finishing is pin sharp; his touch and awareness of space have been refined; and his acceleration is as frightening as ever. He made 30 appearances in Ligue 1 this season and scored 28 goals. This summer is the perfect time for Lacazette to finally fly the nest and prove he is capable of becoming a top-tier European striker. He looked likely to join Atlético Madrid, but their transfer ban has thrown everything into uncertainty.

Interested: Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United.

Estimated value: €60m

Fabinho: Monaco, 23

Without Fabinho, Monaco would probably not have won the Ligue 1 title this season. The difference between Leonardo Jardim’s side with and without their midfield general is stark. The 4-1 drubbing they received from Paris Saint-Germain the Coupe de la Ligue final when he was suspended shows how much they rely on his mobility, power, range of passing and ability to dominate midfield battles in tandem with Tiemoué Bakayoko, despite often being outnumbered in a two-man midfield. If Fabinho doesn’t play, Monaco’s freewheeling, relentless, high-pressing 4-4-2 starts to fall apart. The rangy Brazilian has been the most influential player in Ligue 1 this season. He could prove to be irreplaceable for Monaco, so finding a way to retain him will be the top priority for their vice president, Vadim Vasilyev, this summer.

Interested: Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, PSG.

Estimated value: €60m

Issa Diop: Toulouse, 20

In November 2015, Toulouse were floundering. After 13 games without a win, their manager at the time, Dominique Arribage, threw lanky 18-year-old centre-back Issa Diop in at the deep end for the visit of Nice. The team won 2-0 and although Arribagé was soon dismissed, Diop has been a permanent fixture in the Toulouse side ever since. His pace, towering aerial ability, reading of play and assured defending were key to their miraculous survival under the inspirational Pascal Dupraz last season. Diop has developed into one of the most consistent centre-backs in France, finishing the season as captain and working in tandem with the equally superb Christophe Julien in one of Ligue 1’s most eye-catching defensive partnership. Still just 20, Diop’s growing stature is already justifiably turning heads.

Interested: Monaco, Chelsea, Red Bull Leipzig.

Estimated value: €25m

Ismaila Sarr: Metz, 19

The question of how Metz stayed up has been the mystery of the season in France. They conceded 72 goals and finished the campaign with a goal difference of -33, the worst defensive record in Ligue 1, but somehow finished in 14th place. Cheick Diabaté, who scored eight goals in the 15 games he played since arriving on loan in January from Turkish club Osmanlıspor, provides half an answer to the question. The other half of the equation is the emergence of teenage winger Ismaila Sarr. Sarr’s explosive and direct wing play dragged his Metz counterparts towards safety in the latter part of the season. The Senegalese was signed from Metz’s partner club, Génération Foot, last summer and remains raw. His style resembles that of a lightening-quick Paulo Wanchope, all flailing limbs and unpredictability, but flashes of genuine brilliance have become increasingly evident in 2017. Superb strikes against Caen and Nancy gave his team crucial points and a virtually unplayable cameo was nearly enough to see off Paris Saint-Germain. He still has some way to go but the journey will be an enthralling one.

Interested: Newcastle United, Red Bull Leipzig, Watford.

Estimated value: €18m

Tiemoué Bakayoko: Monaco, 22

As Fabinho’s midfield lieutenant, Tiemoué Bakayoko has been pivotal to Monaco’s success this season. Leonardo Jardim’s attacking, high-swelling 4-4-2 can often be outmanned in central areas when pitted against possession-oriented three-man midfields but, with Fabinho dictating play, Bakayoko’s intelligently protects the back four. Their combined aggression and power means Monaco are often outmanned but they are never outgunned. Although Bakayoko’s core skillset places him somewhere between Ngolo Kanté and Claude Makélélé in the spectrum of midfield sentinels – astutely shutting down burgeoning attacks and harrying forwards into mistakes – his strong, leggy Patrick Vieira-like physique adds an extra dimension to his game. He needs to learn to concentrate for a full 90 minutes but, aged just 22, he has all the qualities to become a world class midfielder.

Interested: Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, PSG.

Estimated value: €60m

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