Five players to watch in Ligue 2 this season | OneFootball

With the new Ligue 2 season getting underway this weekend, Get French Football News reveal the five players to watch in France’s second division.

Eli Junior Kroupi (18) – Lorient

The son of former Lorient man and Coupe de France winner Elie Kroupi was making waves with Les Merlus in a breakthrough 2023-2024 campaign. With his bloodline and his local upbringing, he represents what it means to play for the Breton club. It’s also a big factor into why the talented youngster has opted to stick with the club despite relegation to Ligue 2, although his head could yet be turned by a potential move to local rivals Stade Rennais.

However, remaining with Lorient in France’s second division could be the makings of him. With a speed and dribbling style that has been compared to a young Kylian Mbappé, he’s now looking to find some more consistency.

After making his breakthrough campaign in the top tier with 30 appearances, five goals, and three assists – it is logical to assume he has all the qualities to be the outstanding player in Ligue 2 this season. A post-relegation exodus of attacking talent, including a likely departure for serial goalscorer Mohamed Bamba opens up the room for a potential rise to prominence in Pantaloni’s starting XI. Now it’s up to him to take that opportunity with both hands.

Muhammed Cham (23) – Clermont

After a prolonged two-season breakthrough period in the top tier with Clermont, the feeling is now that Muhammed Cham has an opportunity to show his true potential under a new system that could greatly benefit him. Whilst Clermont were collectively disastrous in the 2023-2024 season, the Austrian had a rather positive campaign on a personal level. Eight goals and four assists in 33 top-flight appearances would normally see a relegated player shipped off to a fellow Ligue 1 club. But for Cham, the opportunity is there to turn his sparks of individual brilliance into more results for his side.

The Austrian international, who was called up for Ralf Rangick’s preliminary Euros squad this summer, can play anywhere across the front line but predominantly thrives playing as a No.10. He contributed to a huge 46% of Clermont’s goals last season, and ranked fifth in Ligue 1 for Shot Creating Actions (119). Whilst he still has room for maturity in his game, he has the raw talent which if nurtured effectively by new Clermont boss Sébastien Bichard, has the potential to absolutely tear up the second tier.

Merwan Ifnaoui (25) – Red Star

“If you have a good eye and love football, Merwan Ifnaoui is a player that makes you want to go to the stadium to get your emotions going,” says former Red Star manager Habib Beye on attacking midfielder Merwan Ifnaoui. Ligue 2 represents a significant step up for the 25-year-old, but the quintessential modern playmaker has the natural ability and talent to be the surprise star for promoted Parisian suburb side Red Star FC this season.

Last season Ifnaoui clinched the third tier’s player of the season award in his second full campaign in the division. The five-time Coupe de France winners signed the silky midfielder in February 2023, and he quickly became a key playmaker in Beye’s side for their push for promotion.

The attacking midfielder can play centrally or out wide but has an ability on the ball in tight spaces and a natural sense of positioning that fits perfectly into Red Star’s passing style of play. In 31 matches last season, he provided seven assists and three goals, being involved in 20% of Les Audoniens’ goals on their way to the Championnat National title. Effective as a chance creator, he also catches the eye on the ball, gliding around the pitch with relative ease. Ifnaoui could be the offensive key if Red Star are to stay up in the division this season under new manager Grégory Poirier.

Brahim Traoré (20) – Caen

Whilst a lot of the talk surrounding SM Caen whirls around their new star owner Kylian Mbappé, Les Vikings are hoping this season for a push up the Ligue 2 table. Rennes-born France U21 international Brahim Traoré has been catching the eyes of admirers after breaking through with the Normandy-based side last season.

Initially starting out in midfield under Jean-Marc Furlan at the start of the season, Traoré was repositioned into central defence following the arrival of Seube in November last year. 37 matches later and he is the indisputable starter and key man in defence for Caen.

Dominant in one-on-one duels, the 2004-born defender is also brilliantly at ease on the ball. According to FBREF, Traoré held a pass success rate per 90 of 89.6%, and the eye test backs it up. He is a defender who can easily join in with build-up play in midfield and is comfortable in doing so. Do not be surprised if he ends up in Ligue 1 within the next 18 months or so.

Jean-Phillipe Krasso (27) – Paris FC

“I wanted to feel important again,” said a determined Jean-Phillipe Krasso speaking after officially signing for Paris FC. The 2023 AFCON winner with Ivory Coast in February was playing Champions League football with Red Star Belgrade, but after 29 appearances and eight goals with the Serbian champions, he decided to return to Ligue 2 and sign for Les Parisiens despite interest from bigger clubs.

It took PFC a transfer fee of over €1 million (plus bonuses) to seal one of the biggest moves in the division at the start of the transfer window. Krasso knows Ligue 2 like the back of his hand: he had an outstanding season with Saint-Étienne with 17 goals and 12 assists back in 2023, and will look to be one of the divisions’ top scorers this season.

A physical No.9 with some pace and trickery in his pocket, Krasso will undoubtedly be looking forward to the prospect of linking up with last season’s top creator in the division, Ilan Kebbal. He can be dangerous from any angle – as displayed by his superb finish against Guinea-Bissau with Ivory Coast – as well as threatening from range. Back in a league where he has previously proved prolific, the Ivorian looks set to take Ligue 2 by storm again.

This article was taken from the GFFN Ligue 1 Season Guide, which can be downloaded HERE.

GFFN | George Boxall