- 8 hours ago
Euro 2024: Five France stars who could move clubs this summer
Euro 2024 has begun and France are firm favourites to claim a title they last won back in 2000.
Coach Didier Deschamps has a ridiculously well-stocked squad at his disposal and left several players out of his 23 who would walk into the starting XIs of many other top teams.
However, France will need to come together a lot better than at Euro 2020, where they slipped out of the tournament at the last 16 stage.
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To do so they will need electrifying contributions from stars like Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, but there will also be space for some emerging talents to shine.
Plenty of those in and around the France squad have been linked with transfers ahead of the summer window and here we have a look at FIVE France players who could be on the move.
Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid beckons for the France captain. The 25-year-old superstar will bring down the curtain on a seven-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain at the end on June 30, having declined the opportunity to trigger a money-spinning one-year contract extension.
Instead, Mbappe is destined to become the biggest mover in this year’s transfer window and, perhaps, the biggest free transfer of all time, with his transfer to Los Blancos already confirmed.
The Mbappe - Real Madrid story goes back to his childhood, when he was an avowed Madrid fan. He visited the club as a teenager with Zinedine Zidane among those Madrid figures who tried to woo him towards the Spanish capital.
He instead went to Monaco and onto PSG, making history along the way. In 2022, as the expiration date of his previous deal approached, it was widely expected he would leave for the Bernabeu. However, a last-minute change of mind made Madrid furious and PSG deliriously happy.
It’s all changed now with Mbappe set to fulfil his destiny of pulling on the famous white kit at last.
Mike Maignan
“Magic Mike” is now listed among the very best goalkeepers in the world, having excelled at both Lille and AC Milan, winning league titles with each.
The 28-year-old is out of contract in 2026 at San Siro and it’s not widely expected that the French No.1 will renew terms with the Italian giants.
Consequently, Maignan has been linked with a transfer to the very biggest clubs in Europe ahead of the summer transfer window.
Chelsea have long been regarded as his top suitors and there remains significant uncertainty over their goalkeeping position. Also linked have been Manchester United, who made a poor decision to sign Andre Onana from Inter Milan last summer for €55 million.
Expect Milan to be fielding bids of up to €70m for the French Guiana-born shot stopper.
Theo Hernandez
The Canadian left back’s entourage have not reacted well to Bayern Munich's refusal to yield to his wage demands and it’s no secret the 23-year-old already has one eye on Real Madrid. That move would leave a starting slot available in the Bayern backline with Theo Hernandez, brother of former Bayern star Lucas, in the frame for a move to Bavaria.
The 26-year-old is an elite left back for AC Milan but with the Frenchman only under contract until 2026, the Rossoneri could have a decision to make this summer.
Hernandez could fetch around €60m with Chelsea and Manchester United also credited with interest in the former Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid player.
Adrien Rabiot
Seemingly a free agent every year, Rabiot is once again out of contract at Juventus and facing an uncertain future. Coming off a decent season and set to play a key role at Euro 2024, the veteran midfielder has no shortage of suitors.
Man Utd are keen on him for the third year running, while Juventus are naturally desperate to tie him down to a new deal, and they are reportedly trying to get him to commit to the club long-term, unlike in previous years.
In recent times, AC Milan have also been associated with the Frenchman.
Youssouf Fofana
A player whose exit has pretty much all been confirmed, the only thing that still needs to be clarified is where he will actually end up. Monaco star Youssouf Fofana is coming off a great campaign and has told the Ligue 1 side that he is keen to move.
The Principality club won't stand in his way and are actively working on a transfer. Arsenal and Man Utd have been prominently linked, as have AC Milan.
