Ligue 1-Based Talents That PSG Should Be Looking At This Summer
The League of Talents could provide a French foundation for Paris Saint-Germain and help satisfy Kylian Mbappé.
Getting Paris Saint-Germain to “Frenchify” their roster has been a topic of debate for many summers now, with project rebuilds and overhauls so commonplace that it feels as if the French champions are in a constant state of retooling.
However, this summer feels like the final chance to construct the capital club’s project around French superstar and talisman Kylian Mbappé, who needs to see a major change in strategy from PSG after years of repeated UEFA Champions League failure despite star-studded teams.
Although the Qatar-backed Ligue 1 giants are not obliged to go French or Paris-based with this next iteration of the Parisien project, it is the one avenue the club has never truly pursued with conviction and could potentially pay major dividends across all fronts.
There are already several quality potential free agents of French origin available this coming summer, such as Marcus Thuram, Evan Ndicka, Raphael Guerreiro, and Adrien Rabiot, while a number of Championnat-based talents could also be of interest to PSG sporting advisor Luis Campos who has constructed successful rosters rich in domestic talent for both AS Monaco and Lille OSC before.
Here is a look at some of the names that could and should be looked at this summer with a view to building around Mbappé.
Khéphren Thuram
One of Les Bleus’ most recently capped senior internationals, the 22-year-old midfielder showed glimpses of what he could offer PSG over the weekend in Nice’s 2-0 home loss to Christophe Galtier’s side. Italy-born Khéphren is brother to Marcus and son of Lilian, and the prospect of both playing a part in a new-look capital side is exciting, but Les Aiglons’ talent would be more than just that. The middle of the park is arguably the position that PSG most needs attention, with an over-reliance on Marco Verratti in the past few years having badly hamstrung the team. Thuram is already on the lists of a number of Europe’s top clubs, but moving to the capital to form part of a new project built around domestic talent to target continental success could appeal with Nice not yet certain to qualify for UEFA competition just yet.
Castello Lukeba
Defensively, Ndicka as a free agent, feels like a no-brainer for PSG, given that he hails from the capital region and is only 24 later this year. However, there are alternatives within Ligue 1, too, and Olympique Lyonnais’ Lukeba is near the top of that list. Given OL’s struggles to qualify for European competition for next season, the 20-year-old and several of his teammates will be wanted across the continent. Lukeba impressed as Lyon came to Parc des Princes and emerged with a 1-0 win just a few weeks ago, and this summer could be the moment to pounce for this future French international who is already on his way to outgrowing his surroundings at Groupama Stadium.
Jean-Clair Todibo
Another alternative to Ndicka and Lukeba could be Thuram’s defensive teammate from Nice, who joined him in the most recent France squad, although he has yet to take to the field. Todibo is still only 23, despite the fact that it feels as if he has been around for a long time after breaking through with Toulouse before joining Barcelona. Loan experiences with Schalke 04 in Germany and Benfica in Portugal led him to Nice, where he has made himself a home and established himself as one of the best defensive performers, and European giants are now taking note. Getting Thuram and Todibo in the same summer is perhaps fanciful, but a potential failure to qualify for Europe could open that door unless Didier Digard leads Les Aiglons to UEFA Europa Conference League success which would secure a Europa League berth.
Adrien Truffert
Speaking of clubs that PSG could look to raid this summer, Stade Rennais are another with a handful of very talented prospects in their ranks. Desire Doue and Lesley Ugochukwu in midfield are definitely players that clubs of Les Parisiens’ stature will be keeping tabs on, but it could be the likes of a Truffert that proves most useful in an immediate sense. With Juan Bernat unlikely to challenge Nuno Mendes to maintain his impressive form since joining, the 21-year-old Belgium-born France international could provide the sort of quality in-depth on the left side of defense that this PSG squad needs in a few different areas.
Youssouf Fofana
Building around Mbappé could lead PSG to knock once more on the door of their Monegasque rivals one year after trying to swoop for Aurélien Tchouaméni. Real Madrid beat the capital club to the 23-year-old, with Fofana the next midfielder expected to leave Stade Louis II for a European giant. ASM’s 24-year-old comes from the Paris region and is now established as part of Didier Deschamps’ French squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 and FIFA 2026 World Cup cycle and could help to rebuild PSG’s midfield alongside Verratti if Campos can get some smart business done with his former employers.
Rayan Cherki
Perhaps most interesting of all, given that PSG has already tried for him, is versatile OL attacking talent Cherki who will surely be a target again this summer. Still, only 19 despite approaching 100 senior appearances, the opportunity to snare him could be opening up with Lyon against it to secure European qualification now that they have crashed out of the Coupe de France. Cherki will be in demand given his skillset, but the chance to be part of a rebuilt attacking unit alongside Mbappé might appeal—especially as part of an influx of French talent.