The China Mail - Backed by BlueCo, Strasbourg spend big and aim high

While PSG reportedly shelled out just over 100 million euros ($116.8m) during the French summer, Strasbourg's owners BlueCo sanctioned purchases of almost 120 million euros according to specialist website Transfermarkt.

But PSG only signed two players in Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier and Bournemouth's Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi.

At Strasbourg, in contrast, coach Liam Rosenior has seen 13 new faces arrive and three players who were on loan last season sign permanently, while defender Mamadou Sarr was sold to Chelsea and loaned back.

Two standout players from last season have gone to the Premier League, with midfielder Habib Diarra signing for Sunderland and winger Dilane Bakwa joining Nottingham Forest for a total of 72 million euros.

But the Alsace outfit have spent that money, and more, to build a squad capable of competing high up Ligue 1 and going far in Europe.

Strasbourg were in contention for Champions League qualification last season before a late collapse saw them finish seventh.

That means they are involved in the Conference League, where league phase opponents include FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.

"We have a very good squad," said Rosenior just before the closure of the window, which notably saw England left-back Ben Chilwell arrive at the last minute from Chelsea.

"For me now it is about making sure I pick the right starting team," added the Englishman, who insists Strasbourg aspire to be playing in the Champions League.

"I feel like we have better opportunities as a staff to make in-game tactical decisions which we didn't have last year. I am really happy with this group."

While most French clubs, other than PSG and Marseille, have been forced to tighten belts due to the collapse of Ligue 1's domestic broadcast deal, Strasbourg's owners have increased investment.

"When you look at what is happening to French clubs, how is it possible that some of them are able to spend so much?" asked Nice sporting director Florian Maurice in an interview with sports daily L'Equipe.

And there is controversy around the ownership model. The BlueCo consortium, led by American businessmen Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, also own Chelsea.

A pathway from Stamford Bridge to Alsace has opened up. Star performers for Strasbourg last season included goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic and Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, who were on loan from Chelsea.

They have returned to London, but Chilwell and midfielder Mathis Amougou are new arrivals from Chelsea on permanent deals.

In addition to Sarr, goalkeeper Mike Penders and Ecuador starlet Kendry Paez have come in on loan from west London.

Many Strasbourg fans are unhappy that their team is part of a multi-club model, yet BlueCo have made the 1979 French champions stronger than they had been in decades.

Player to watch: Benjamin Pavard

The France centre-back returned to his home country just before the transfer deadline, joining Marseille on loan from Inter Milan.

He left Lille in 2016 and starred for Stuttgart and Bayern Munich before spending the last two years in Italy.

Pavard's arrival means eight members of the France squad that won the 2018 World Cup will be playing in Ligue 1 this season -- Paul Pogba, Olivier Giroud and Florian Thauvin also came home during the summer.

Key stats

127 - PSG's goals tally in all competitions in 2025 is more than any other team in the five major European leagues

11 - Lille have scored 11 goals in their first three Ligue 1 games, making them the only team to have reached double figures in Europe's five biggest leagues

4 - Lyon this weekend target a fourth successive win to start the season. The last time they began a campaign with such a run was in 1981

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Marseille v Lorient (1845)

Saturday

Nice v Nantes (1500), Auxerre v Monaco (1905)

Sunday

Lille v Toulouse (1300), Paris Saint-Germain v Lens, Strasbourg v Le Havre, Metz v Angers, Brest v Paris FC (all 1515), Rennes v Lyon (1845)

D.Peng--ThChM