Mbappe, Di Maria and five Ligue 1 stars leaving on a free transfer
Ligue 1 is known as a selling league, but miss the right window to make a transfer and there is a danger of key players becoming free agents.
In the summer of 2022, there are a number of talented players who will be available on Bosman transfers, with Kylian Mbappe of PSG foremost among them.
Here is the situation for five of the leading out-of-contract stars.
Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Should Kylian Mbappe leave PSG in the summer for Real Madrid on a free transfer, it would be one of the most spectacular moves of its sort ever.
Mbappe is presently one of the outstanding footballers in the world game and a player that any club would fall over itself to sign.
Quite what his plans are, though, are unclear. He has kept his cards close to his chest, and while the sentiment was that he would depart for a long period, PSG are fighting hard to persuade him to stay.
Boubacar Kamara (Marseille)
Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara has long been linked with a move away from the club, and he surely would have departed had it not been for the financial issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
OM did not get the type of offer they wanted for the versatile defensive player and refused to sell.
In the past, clubs like Manchester United have been linked with the 22-year-old, and he would make an excellent acquisition for even elite teams given the relatively low risk status he enjoys due to his free agent status.
READ MORE: Out of contract in 2022: The best free agents available on a Bosman
Angel Di Maria (PSG)
At the age of 34, Angel Di Maria could be about to wind down his career at the very top level.
For the last six years he has been an excellent servant to PSG, and though not the most storied player at the club, he has been one of the most reliable and consistent.
Now, though, he finds himself on the periphery at Parc des Princes. Troubled by niggling injuries this season and lacking in game time because of the arrival of compatriot Lionel Messi, it is time for him to move on.
Randal Kolo Muani (Nantes)
Kolo Muani has been one of the breakout players in Ligue 1 this season, having exploded onto the scene with a sequence of excellent performances for Nantes.
In the league, he has scored 12 goals in 33 starts, while he has another in the cup – a tournament that his side will contest the final of in May.
The 23-year-old, who, like Mbappe, hails from Bondy, has already decided his future. He will go to the Bundesliga to play with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Xavi Simons (PSG)
Regarded as one of the hottest young players in Europe at one point, all eyes are fixed on what Xavi Simons will next decide to do with his career.
The former Barcelona youth turned 19 on April 21 and could be seduced to remaining at PSG by more game time.
The youngster caught the eye in the UEFA Youth League with four goals and six assists in just seven games.