Following in Paris Saint-Germain's footsteps, another proud French club are set to emerge as European heavyweights within the next few years- Monaco.
Under the guidance of the sporting director Vadim Vasilyev, majority owner Dmity Rybolovlev (a Russian billionairre) has began investing heavily in the squad.
Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez have signed from Porto, Radamel Falcao will make the move after completing a medical. whilst Ricardo Carvalho and Victor Valdes look set to join them. The French team will continue to spend through the summer.
Even though Monaco will not compete in next term's Champions League (they were playing in Ligue 2 last season), the fact that the club is located in a tax haven makes them even more appealing to the world's top players.
But the principality's location is both an advantage and a hidrance. As it stands Monaco are, in theory, banned from participating in Ligue 1 due to new legislation enforced by the Ligue Professionnel de Football in March.
The legislation restricts admission to Ligue 1 to clubs whose headquarters are located in France for tax purposes. Meaning Monaco would need to change their status or forfeit their place in the French League's top flight.
Monaco have not taken this ruling lying down, however. The French club have launched legal proceeding with France's supreme court. They believe the decision in March "violates several fundamental principles of French and European law".
Most believe that Rybolovlev and his legal team will win the court case and Monaco will therefore be able to compete in Ligue 1 next season. Surely, Monaco will be competing with France's elite for Champions League football in the season after- and with signings like those mentioned, many of Europe's top teams will sit up and take note.
In a season that has seen two German powerhouses knock aside everything in their way and the money being flooded into the French league, should Europe's three traditional top leagues (England, Spain and Italy) start to worry?
For the time being, the Germans are the main threat and it will take France a few years to play catch-up. But come 2016, who knows?
