President Mario Draghi ends his eight-year mandate in October and market players are anxious to know what direction the central bank will take when his tenure finishes. European officials have told CNBC that a French candidate is well placed to get the top job, but much depends on the upcoming European elections and the subsequent distribution of roles across the EU.

"In principle, (France) is well placed (to get the ECB presidency)," a European official with knowledge of the situation told.

The same official mentioned that France has more than one possible candidate and that Germany is more inclined to seek the presidency of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, which also becomes available this year.

There are two possible French names circulating in European corridors: Benoit Coeure, who is a French economist and currently serves as a member of the executive board of the ECB; and Francois Villeroy de Galhau, who is France's current central bank governor. Both have said they would be keen to succeed Draghi, if asked