Ibrahimovic, Matuidi and Silva on shortlist for Ligue 1 Player of Year award

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Blaise Matuidi, Thiago Silva and St Etienne striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are in the running to be named the Union nationale des footballeurs professionnels (UNFP) Ligue 1 Player of the Year.

Ibrahimovic, in his first season in French football, should be the favourite to succeed last year's winner Eden Hazard as the Swede's 27 goals - the highest in the top flight this season - have put the Parisians on the brink of the domestic title.
The contributions of midfielder Matuidi and centre-half Thiago Silva should not be ignored, however, while Aubameyang could be a dark horse to walk away with the honour as he has almost single-handedly carried this season's surprise packages St Etienne into the top-five with 19 goals and eight assists.
Montpellier midfielder Remy Cabella, Lille defender Lucas Digne, Bastia striker Florian Thauvin and PSG midfielder Marco Verratti have been nominated for young player of the year.
PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti joins Elie Baup (Marseille), Christophe Galtier (St Etienne) and Claude Puel (Nice) as the contenders for manager of the year.