Ligue 1 Transfer Talk: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg linked with Italy switch, while Monaco eye up new striker

Berke Özer from Lille to AC Milan

​Despite only being inserted in as Lille’s new number one this summer, Turkish international Özer is already being linked with a move away from the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Signed from Süper Lig side Eyüpspor for just under £4million to replace Lucas Chevalier, who departed Les Dogues for the reigning and defending Ligue 1 champions, Paris Saint-Germain. Could be a short stay in France for Özer?

However, despite playing 14 of Lille’s 16 league matches and all of their six Europa League phase matches, Özer is still being heavily linked with a move away from the scintillating Spanish sun.

After conceding only 24 goals in 20 matches across all competitions has apparently caught the attention of AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri. Mike Maignan isn’t only AC Milan’s current first-choice man between the San Siro sticks, he is also the club’s captain. So, you might initially think a move is unlikely.

But considering he is 30 years old, and Özer is five years younger, there is every chance that the upper echelons at the San Siro could be planning for the foreseeable future.

Secondly, another reason Milan could be targeting Özer is because Maignan is out of contract at the end of the season. Milan could easily be staring over their shoulder at increasing speculation that Tottenham are looking at Guglielmo Vicario replacements, which includes Maignan potentially making the Premier League move sooner than later.

​Pierre-Emile Højbjerg from Marseille to Juventus

​The defensive midfielder could be on the move to another country after previously playing in his native Denmark, England, Germany, and currently in France, with a move to Italy potentially on the cards in January.

Despite only arriving from Tottenham Hotspur for just under £12million last summer, the Dane has pretty much been an ever-present in the Marseille midfield engine room. 20 appearances across all competitions, alongside regular partners Arthur Vermeeren and Matt O’Riley make a move debatable, but as everyone well knows in football, money talks.

With a reported market value of around £15.8million, according to Transfermarkt, Juventus have a 23% chance of assessing Højbjerg as their next signing through the gates at the Allianz Stadium.

With Juventus in the hunt for their first Scudetto shield since 2019/20, positioning Højbjerg alongside Manuel Locatelli, Khéphren Thuram, Weston McKennie, and Andrea Cambiaso could result in a winning formula.

Mathys Detourbet from Troyes to Monaco

​Despite only being in the early stages of his playing career, the next potential big thing the final third in French football could be becoming a Monaco player in January.

Detourbet has been leading the Troyes’ line this season in Ligue 2, participating in 16 of their 17 matches. However, he has yet to find the back of the net in the second tier of French football so far in the 2025/26 campaign.

He has celebrated breaking his seasonal duck in the fourth round of the Coupe de France against lower league opponents Touraine, but that hasn’t stopped prying footballing eyes from approaching. A product of Troyes’ academy, Detourbet has progressed through the club’s Under 17s, U19s, and B team to now a permanent member of the first team.

With one of Ligue 1’s 2025/26 Champions League phase representatives, Monaco, having only Folarin Balogun and Mika Biereth in their experienced forward department, injuries could cause havoc. That could then open the door for the Monégasques to make a move for Detourbet,