There are only eight game weeks left in the Ligue 1 and we have high-profile players that would be out of contract at the end of the season.
Well, we are unsure if their respective contracts will be renewed or they will end up leaving their clubs as free agents in the summer.
In the same vein, Futballnews picks the strongest starting eleven of the soon to be out of contract players in the French Ligue 1.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Maxime Dupé – Goalkeeper
Maxime Dupé, 30, a former France youth international, will be out of contract in the summer and Toulouse is yet to renew his contract.
The Frenchman has played in every one of Toulouse’s 30 Ligue 1 matches after a successful return to Ligue 1.
He has saved a lot of penalties this season and the penalty stopper looks like an attractive prospect.
Hamari Traoré – Right-Back
Hamari Traoré is a Malian footballer who currently plays as a right-back for Ligue 1 club Rennes, of which he is the captain, as well as the Mali national team.
He has been at the club since 2017 and this season is looking like his last. Though he had several interest from Barcelona in the summer Traoré stayed and has featured 28 times for the French side.
The Malian is a capable and experienced defender, who also has leadership qualities that can be an asset to any dressing room.
Sergio Ramos – Centre-back
Sergio Ramos who left Real Madrid for Ligue 1 side PSG, has not just only been impressive but has also been competing at the highest level.
Though the former Spanish defender is 37 years old and cannot always be in the starting line up – the player has played 37 games in all competitions this season and clearly has something to offer.
He is one of the players whose contract is set to expire in the summer and might likely leave the Ligue 1 giants team.
Alexander Djiku – Centre-back
Alexander Kwabena Baidoo Djiku is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ligue 1 club Strasbourg.
Djiku is a veteran French defender and the Ghanaian international has been solid for Strasbourg in the last two seasons.
At 28 years of age, has played 216 games in Ligue 1, his best years are not behind him and he might be a free agent soon.
Sead Kolašinac – Left-Back
Sead Kolašinac is a Bosnian footballer who plays as a left-back for Ligue 1 club Marseille and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
The former Arsenal man has been equally as capable at the left of a back three or at left-wing-back.
Kolašinac has an experience and a versatility that could be a useful asset for several clubs.
Stijn Spierings – Central midfielder
Stijn Spierings is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Toulouse – a teammate to Maxime Dupé.
The Netherlands international has been an important part in Toulouse’s midfield and is a huge part of the club’s success, and has played in every one of their games in all competitions this season
Spierings, 27, could be an interesting profile for some foreign clubs looking to add depth to their current options.
Branco van den Boomen – Central midfielder
Another Toulouse player, Branco van den Boomen is a Dutch professional who plays as a midfielder in the French Ligue 1.
The Toulouse midfielder will be a much sought for player in the summer as his contract expires at his current club.
According to Sports Journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Dutchman has been attracting plenty of interest across Europe.
He has played 33 games so far and has scored six goals as well as registering 12 assists for the France Top flight team.
Lionel Messi – Ring Winger
Lionel Andrés Messi, also referred to as Leo Messi, is an Argentine footballer who plays as an attacker for Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team.
The Argentinian captain is the biggest of Ligue 1’s potential free agents.
Despite winning the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar last year, his future is still up in the air amid contract issues with PSG.
Messi might return to Barcelona as reports suggests, however, the 7-times Balon D’Or winner is yet to say anything in regards to his future.
Houssem Aouar – Left Winger
Houssem-Eddine Chaâbane Aouar is a footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Lyon.
The player who was born in France, played once for the France national team before switching his allegiance to Algeria.
Aouar’s time at the French side Lyon has dwindled and this season he has played a outlying role. But he is just 24 years old, and still has more time to mould a great player. He will just need the right environment.
Alexis Sánchez – Attacking midfielder
Alexis Alejandro Sánchez Sánchez, also known as Alexis, is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Marseille and the Chile national team.
He is often referred to as the greatest Chilean player of all time.
The expectation were not much high for the Chilean, but he however shown himself still capable of turning up at the highest level.
Moussa Dembélé – Centre Forward
Moussa Dembélé is a French footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 side Lyon.
Dembélé was developed through PSG and made his professional debut in the Premier League for Fulham in November 2013.
The season has not been the best for Dembélé and the return of Alexandre Lacazette made things even worse for him.
However he has been prolific and has scored 70 goals in 171 games for Lyon, and he is just 26 years of age.
