How Nice can line up this season with EIGHT ex-Premier League stars after free transfer for former Chelsea ace Barkley
NICE could field a whopping EIGHT former Premier League players or current Prem loanees in their starting XI this season.
That is after Ross Barkley arrived on a free transfer following his release by Chelsea in the summer.
The former England man was unveiled to fans ahead of Sunday’s defeat against Monaco – after checking himself out in the mirror in a cringe-worthy announcement video.
Barkley followed Aaron Ramsey in joining the South France side as a free agent this summer.
The Welshman, 31, made his switch earlier this summer after he agreed to terminate his Juventus contract.
He was swiftly followed to the Allianz Riviera Stadium by Leicester stalwart Kasper Schmeichel.
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Nice then added Arsenal’s £72million flop Nicolas Pepe on a season-long loan.
And Fulham left-back Joe Bryan also headed to Nice on loan, as did Brentford centre-back Mads Bech Sorensen.
The Ligue 1 side were linked with an ambitious move for Edinson Cavani.
The Uruguayan, 35, had been a free agent since leaving Manchester United at the end of last season but instead signed for Valencia.
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But it is possible Nice manager Lucien Favre could still line up with eight former Prem players in his team this season.
That is because former Southampton midfielders Mario Lemina and Morgan Schneiderlin also play for Nice.
Fans may be familiar with defender Dante, who spent three years at Bayern Munich earlier in his career.
While he has partnered ex-Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo so far this season.
Nice’s team is brimming with young French talent, with Under-21 internationals Khephren Thuram, Amine Gouiri and Melvin Bard all players to watch.
Algerian right-back Youcef Atal appears to be the first-choice on that flank while Andy Delort and Gaetan Laborde will battle it out up front after the latter was snapped up from Rennes.
