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Incredibly, Franck Ribéry finished third in the assists table last season despite leaving Ligue 1 in January, when he shocked Metz by joining Galatasaray. Just half a year later, he stunned the Turkish club by signing for Marseille claiming not to have been paid in the last four months. Gala dispute his version of events and FIFA will eventually rule on the matter, but if he can keep the controversy to the back of his mind, Ribéry's quick bursts of pace and visionary passing could turn Marseille into title contenders. At 22, his reputation lingers uneasily between untrustworthy troublemaker and moody genius, so a memorable season at the Stade Vélodrome would do wonders for both club and player.
Nice struggled for Ligue 1 survival right until the death of last season, partly for want of a regular goal-scoring partner for 'Tahitigol' Marama Vahirua. Victor Agali never repeated his staggering hat-trick feat against Monaco and Edgaras Jankauskas was an unmitigated flop, but the Côte d'Azur outfit pulled off a minor coup this summer by capturing exciting Ivory Coast frontman Bakary Koné. Voted Ligue 2 Player of the Season for his 24 strikes with Lorient, 'Baky' blew away the opposition in the second tier last year and is raring to prove himself at the highest level. And the pocket-sized but explosive finisher has the added motivation of competing head-to-head with Lens recruit Aruna Dindane, the man he has to dislodge if he is to partner Didier Drogba in the Elephants' forward line at the 2006 World Cup. 
The jewel in Auxerre's Coupe de France crown last term, Bonaventure Kalou never hid his desire to join a 'big club' before eventually signing for Paris Saint-Germain last month. The capital outfit may still have the potential to restore their former glory, but, as last season showed, nothing can be taken for granted when the players themselves under-perform. In short, Kalou will need to be at the top of his game if he wants his new team to justify their 'big' reputation, and the Parc des Princes faithful are already drooling at the prospect of the Ivory Coast livewire dribbling through opposition defences before releasing Portuguese marksman Pedro Pauleta. As is Pauleta himself, no doubt. 
Rather like Manchester United in the early 1990s, Lyon bulldozed their way to the title last year without a prolific striker. For the second time in three years, midfielder Juninho Pernambucano was the club's top scorer, and President Jean-Michel Aulas made it his priority to find a "world-class forward" this summer. Although powerful Norwegian hitman Carew may not be quite at that level, he will be desperate to restore a reputation that looked ready to soar five years ago, and he gives boss Gérard Houllier an extra dimension that his predecessor Paul Le Guen could have done with in Europe last term. Especially strong in the air, expect Carew to bury more than a few artful Florent Malouda crosses.
Only time will tell if Bryan Bergougnoux made the right choice in leaving Lyon a year after bursting onto the scene, but if he continues on the same trajectory as last season expect Toulouse to be challenging for a place in Europe. The 22-year-old chose les Violets over Paris Saint-Germain and Lille, but wanted guaranteed playing-time and will team up with his France Under-21 colleagues Jérémy Mathieu, Lucien Aubey, Nabil Taïder and Albin Ebondo. He looked the genuine article as a right-sided forward at the Stade Gerland, but Toulouse Coach Erick Mombaerts is said to be willing to try him in his favoured position behind the strikers. Held in high regard by France boss Raymond Domenech, a season of fulfilled promise could lead to a surprise World Cup call-up – should France qualify.
Somewhat of an unknown quantity on this side of the Atlantic, in Edixon Perea Bordeaux will be hoping they have signed the next Ronaldinho rather than the next Deivid – in other words, a bright, young South American prospect eager to use Ligue 1 as a launchpad to great things. Adored by fans of his old club Nacional Medellin after firing them to the Colombian title with 18 goals, the 21-year-old Colombian international is reputed to be a quick, agile and predatory finisher, the perfect compliment for the more physical styles of Marouane Chamakh and Jean-Claude Darcheville. The Girondins' expectant fans wanted a big name signing, but the cash-conservative club may have unearthed a real gem thanks to Brazilian Coach Ricardo's Latin American contacts. And given that his nickname is the 'black pearl', what else could he be? 
With a minimum of fuss, Monaco have gone about recruiting a swathe of top-quality midfielders this summer. Any one of Gerard, Toifilou Maoulida, Olivier Sorlin and Olivier Kapo could emerge as the revelation of the principality club's season, as could strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Ernesto Chevanton. But it is genuinely difficult to see how Coach Didier Deschamps intends to juggle all his riches, making Camel Meriem the man to highlight as an almost-guaranteed starter. Consistently likened to Zinédine Zidane, the 25-year-old playmaker's form deserted him in a miserable year for the entire Bordeaux team last season, but he looks certain to grab the opportunity of playing in Europe and fighting for the title as he aims to bed down his place in the France line-up. He will be hoping for a central role, and fans of Les Bleus will be hoping he lives up to his potential.
Only champions Lyon and runners-up Lille had better defences than Saint-Etienne last season, and physically-imposing, athletic centre-back Zoumana Camara had much to do with that. It was a crucial year for the 26-year-old, who had lost his way somewhat since joining Inter Milan in 1998. The former France Under-21 international reached a low point when injury ended a promising spell at Leeds United in 2003-04, but a return to the club that launched his career has done wonders. Les Verts Coach Elie Baup thinks 'Papus' could fit into the national side tomorrow, an opinion shared by his goalkeeper Jérémie Janot, and there could not be a better time to prove them right. 
No single player had more of a hand in Ajaccio's miraculous escape from the drop this Spring than Yohan Demont. The crowds swelled as the islanders saved themselves - and mostly with scouts come to run the rule over the attacking midfielder, who also excels at right-back. Said to be close to a France cap, Demont astonished most people by choosing to join Lens over Paris Saint-Germain, Lille and a host of other clubs. But the native of Valenciennes grew up a fan of les Sang et Or and admitted it had always been his dream to stroll out to the clamour of the northerners' passionate supporters at the Stade Félix-Bollaert. Strong, honest and full of running, the highly-rated 27-year-old could power Lens back into the big time. 
The man who famously knocked Italy out of the 2002 World Cup had the global showcase on his mind again when he joined Metz this month. With Germany just a year away, the 29-year-old striker snubbed a move to Spain or the Premiership in favour of a regular place in the Lorraine club's first eleven. And, although he admits he will pack his bags again next season, Coach Joël Muller intends to make the most of him while he's around. Ahn is also well-versed in the European game after two seasons at Perugia, but it should be noted that he netted just five goals in 25 Serie A appearances, and Ligue 1 has hardly been a successful destination for Asian players in the past. Disproving that received idea ought to be enough motivation in itself, though.