PSG’s 2022/23 Ligue 1 season doesn’t officially start until August 7, but they’ll hit the ground running if they’ll win the Trophee des Champions final against Nantes on Monday.
Winning Trophee des Champions – and even Ligue 1 – may not mean much for PSG since they’re still gunning for the elusive Champions League, but doing so would certainly boost their confidence ahead of their new campaign.
It would also give someone like Lionel Messi an opportunity to bring home another silverware – which is never an old feeling for a competitor like him.
Meanwhile, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, and AS Monaco have all been busy in this transfer window as they’re aiming to strengthen their respective squads. However, the Ligue 1 2022 odds realistically have them all battling for second place behind PSG.
SBOTOP is here to bring to you the newest Ligue 1 2022 updates, so continue to read below to learn more.
Messi could make more room for his big trophy cabinet
Lionel Messi will have an opportunity to win the 41st trophy of his decorated career should PSG beat Nantes on Monday. He would then be one trophy away from matching his former Barcelona teammate Dani Alves (42) for having the most trophies won ever by a player.
The 35-year-old forward has won silverware earlier this year as PSG won Ligue 1 and he also hoisted his first-ever Finalissima after Argentina defeated Euro 2020 titlists Italy last month, 3-0.
Messi may not have registered a single goal in the said final, but his impact was immeasurable as he was running circles around Italy’s backline, delivering two assists to Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala in the process.
In their most recent preseason tour against J-League clubs, PSG have scored 11 goals and only surrendered three in the land of the rising sun during the said stretch.
Messi has started twice, scored twice, and came off the bench once, and he looks in great shape despite his advancing age – which is good news for PSG and bad news for the rest of Ligue 1.
Lyon get stronger at the back with new veteran defender
Les Gones have finally confirmed the signing of Nicolas Tagliafico on a three-year deal after protracted transfer negotiations. The Argentine full-back was signed from Ajax in a move worth €4.2-M.
Lyon were on a lookout for defencive reinforcements since Emerson has now returned to Chelsea after his loan deal with the club expired this summer.
They were initially interested in Tyrell Malacia, but the former Feyenoord man instead chose to go to Manchester United. There was also an opportunity to bring in Marcelo from Real Madrid, but neither sides have agreed to a deal.
Tagliafico is a capable and versatile defender who’s in his physical prime. In his four seasons with Ajax, the 29-year-old has made 167 appearances, scoring 16 goals and 22 assists and has been crowned Eredivisie champions three times.
He is the eighth official addition for Lyon this summer alongside Youssouf Kone, Achraf Laaziri, Kenny Tete, Corentin Tolisso, Johann Lepenant, Yaya Soumare, and former Arsenal star Alexandre Lacazette.
Notable moves from AS Monaco, Marseille, and Nice
Marseille – who finished second last season – have lost Boubacar Kamara to Aston Villa, but they’ve added the likes of Jonathan Clauss, Luis Suarez (from Granada), and Chancel Mbemba that could help them right away.
Clauss was one of the highly-coveted full-backs this summer as Manchester United and Chelsea have both been tracking him, but the 29-year-old ultimately decided to stay in Ligue 1.
AS Monaco also lost a key piece in Aurelien Tchouameni to Real Madrid, but they bolstered their midfield and wing options with the signings of Breel Embolo and Takumi Minamino.
Embolo is fresh from a solid campaign last term as he scored nine goals in 29 Bundesliga matches for Borussia Monchengladbach, with six of those coming in the final eight games of the season.
Minamino, on the other hand, will get more playing time at AS Monaco after playing sporadically for Liverpool. He has scored 10 goals in 22 appearances for the Reds across all competitions last term.
Last but not the least, Nice have agreed to personal terms with Kasper Schmeichel. This will be the first time that the veteran goalkeeper gets to play outside of England since 2007.
Schmeichel spent 11 seasons at the King Power Stadium and has one year left on his current contract. He was one of the Leicester City’s key cogs during their improbable 2016 Premier League triumph.
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