Player exodus rocks Monaco

– Monaco face an almost impossible task to retain their Ligue 1 title with a squad shorn of players that lit up their championship charge with big-spending rivals Paris St Germain poised to sign Brazilian striker Neymar.

The principality side have seen Tiemoue Bakayoko, Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva all depart for the Premier League.

Meanwhile, last season’s runners-up PSG have recruited Brazil fullback Dani Alves (above) from Juventus .

Monaco have also lost forward Valere Germain to Olympique de Marseille and midfielder Nabil Dirar to Fenerbahce but the side has constantly shown they can adapt and evolve in recent seasons under the shrewd guidance of coach Leonardo Jardim.

The Portuguese has steered them to top-three finishes in every campaign since joining in 2013/14 and last year Monaco played some of the most attractive football in Europe as they netted 107 league goals on the way to a famous title triumph.

Monaco have a reputation for nurturing young talent and they will be looking to get the most out of Belgian prospect Youri Tielemans, a gifted midfielder who scored 18 goals and had 15 assists for Anderlecht last season.

“Like every year, we will try to rely on a blend of talent and experience and we’ve been implementing this in our recruitment,” Vasilyev added.

Monaco kicked off the season last night at home to Toulouse as they bid to move within one victory of the French record of 14 consecutive league wins, having won all their last 12 games of the previous campaign.

Other title contenders include Marseille, who have strengthened with the arrival of Germain from Monaco, midfielder Luiz Gustavo from VfL Wolfsburg and defender Adil Rami from Sevilla.

Nice, third last season, will again rely on volatile Italian international striker Mario Balotelli to lead the line for a side buoyed by their progression to the Champions League play-offs on Wednesday. –