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PSG haven’t been the only side beefing up over summer. On the south coast, Marseille and Nice have shown real ambition in the transfer market.

American winger Konrad de la Fuente joined Marseille from Barcelona, goalkeeper Pau Lopez and winger Cengiz Ünder from Roma, while centre-back Luan Peres and midfield general Gerson arrived from the Brazilian league.  William Saliba and Matteo Guendouzi came in from Arsenal, excited to play under Jorge Sampaoli.

Guendouzi said: "I really felt the coach wanted me, and I really like his ways, his personality. I’m sure that I’ll match with a coach like him. I know that with him Olympique de Marseille will do big things, I’m convinced that we are going to win silverware!"

Nice go Dutch

Nice too have been recruiting smartly. Three Dutch players have come in, midfielder Pablo Rosario and dynamic wingers Calvin Stengs and Justin Kluivert. Kluivert said: "Calvin I know from Holland, Kasper also, and it’s nice that they came here, of course it helped me to come here, and yes, if they attract these kind of players it’s very nice to play for a club like this for sure!”

Melvin Bard has swapped Lyon for the Cote d’Azur, where he is joined by former Marseille and Juventus man Mario Lemina, now 27, and ready to bring his experience to the table. Lemina commented: "This is the right moment for me to show that I have gained in maturity, I’m no longer the young Mario you saw when I was in France. I’m here to help the younger players come through, and help out of the other experienced players in guiding them forwards."

Monaco moves

Originally destined to become Nice’s fourth Dutch signing of the summer, Myron Boadu opted to join their neighbours Monaco instead. The 20-year-old forward, who scored 15 goals with Alkmaar last season joined goalkeeper Alexander Nübel and Ismail Jakobs, who arrived from the Bundesliga.

In Brittany, Rennes moved quickly to secure the services of Norwegian full-back Birger Meling from relegated Nimes, strengthening their defence further with one of the revelations of last season, Loic Badé.  The 21-year-old left Lens in a deal worth 17 million euros, determined to continue his development in Ligue 1. Badé explained: "That was very important for me! In France the level is already very high, and a career could be ruined by going elsewhere too soon so developing in France is something I’m determined to do."

Gameiro and Sakho return to France

There have been a couple of veterans returning to Ligue 1 too. 13 years on, Kevin Gameiro returns to his boyhood club Strasbourg with four Europa League medals in his luggage. Back in the sunny south, former PSG captain Mamadou Sakho has settled in Montpellier, filling the void left by the newly retired Vitorino Hilton.

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