Ligue 1 shows spending alone does not guarantee success | OneFootball

In Ligue 1, money has not guaranteed progress. Angers and Le Havre sit clear of the drop after paying nothing in transfer fees across the last two windows, while Paris FC have struggled despite spending a little over €70m.

According to L'Équipe, Angers are 11th and Le Havre 13th after 22 matches, built on frees and loans.

Paris FC are 15th and battling to stay up. Newly promoted after 46 years outside the top flight and burdened by high expectations as the capital’s second club, they needed heavy reinforcement while still learning the division.

It remains early to judge winter signings such as Ciro Immobile, who arrived less than three weeks ago, but the summer intake has underwhelmed. Midfielder Otavio cost €17m and, with an average rating of 4.63, is 128th among outfield players.

Agent Bruno Satin believes heavy January tweaking hints at earlier shortcomings, and says Paris FC are paying a PFC tax. He is at least pleased that recent big fees have stayed in France.

For ex-Marseille and Nice executive Julien Fournier, how money is used matters most, and having it can breed easy choices. He adds that Le Havre and Angers target survival, whereas European chasers must invest, and that spending nothing long term is unrealistic.

Angers and Le Havre have worked smartly under sporting director Laurent Boissier, who leans old-school over data. January’s loan of Branco Van den Boomen from Ajax reflects that, and technology, Satin adds, cannot reveal mentality.

Source: L'Équipe