Florian Sotoca

Key strength: Link-up play

Target man

RC Lens sit second in the table, their W-L-W-D-D form keeping them firmly in the hunt for European qualification. Yet behind the headline-grabbing exploits of their younger stars, 35-year-old Florian Sotoca offers something no transfer fee can buy: championship experience. The French target man has made 25 appearances this season—accumulating just 556 minutes almost exclusively from the bench—but his contributions tell a deeper story. With 1 goal and 1 assist to his name, the €1.5m-rated centre-forward boasts remarkable efficiency, yet it's his hold-up play that truly matters. When coach Will Still needs to kill games or relieve pressure, Sotoca's tactical intelligence and ability to bring teammates like Florian Thauvin into play become invaluable. Wearing the number 7 shirt, this veteran embodies the quiet professionalism that separates contenders from champions. In an era obsessed with pace and youth, Sotoca's old-school artistry proves wisdom remains priceless in the heat of a title race.