Potential Ins and Outs for PSG Ahead of Summer Transfer Window
Potential Ins and Outs for PSG Ahead of Summer Transfer Window
Potential transfer targets for Paris Saint-Germain as they look to rebuild its unbalanced squad.
Paris Saint-Germain’s summer is taking shape now that Lionel Messi will almost certainly be moving on after his recent unauthorized commercial trip to Saudi Arabia with his family. The FIFA 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina will free up significant wage space, which will not only help with Milan Škriniar coming in, but also regarding potential transfer plans, which sporting advisor Luis Campos is already working on. Much will depend upon Christophe Galtier’s potential replacement, but some names of interest have already surfaced, and we know that PSG are open to moving Neymar Jr. on too.
IN
Who? Eintracht Frankfurt’s France international Randal Kolo Muani left FC Nantes last year and has since exploded in the Bundesliga. Still only 24, he was part of Les Bleus’ runners-up squad in Qatar last year and is already wanted by top European clubs such as Bayern Munich.
Good and realistic fit? Kolo Muani is not only a France international, but he also hails from Bondy, which makes him a Parisian child and a dream potential strike partner for PSG’s current star Kylian Mbappé. The Frankfurt man left Ligue 1 on a free transfer just 12 months ago, though, so the idea of paying a substantial fee for him so soon after he was available for next to nothing is questionable.
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Who? Young defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu could be something of a sacrificial lamb this summer with the youth academy graduate attracting significant interest. Despite the club’s new expected policy of French talent hailing from the Paris region where possible, the 17-year-old could be allowed to move on to bring in a fee to acquire of experienced players of a similar profile.
Best and most realistic landing spot? Given that Eintracht Frankfurt have been linked with Bitshiuabu, including him in any potential deal for Kolo Muani could potentially drive the cost down and make him more affordable for PSG while giving the German a replacement for the outgoing Evan Ndicka.
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Who? Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram is another Germany-based attacking talent who will be on the move this summer. The good news for PSG is that the 25-year-old France international will be a free agent with his current deal expiring and his time with FC Sochaux Montbeliard and EA Guingamp gives the Italy-born man a good grounding in French soccer.
Good and realistic fit? Given his age, the attractive price and the fact that he is now part of Didier Deschamps’ setup with Les Bleus, it feels like this would be a smart move regardless of whether or not PSG manage to land Kolo Muani. Messi going will free up some wage space and Thuram should fit into that relatively easily.
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Who? Leandro Paredes is almost certain to return from his loan spell with Juventus despite being open to staying on. The Argentina international has not done enough to impress in Turin and appears destined to return as a potentially problematic element for PSG to deal with.
Best and most realistic landing spot? Honestly, anywhere. However, a return to Italy might have been compromised by this underwhelming spell with Juve. Instead, the 28-year-old could be tempted by a move to Spain with a club like an Atletico Madrid potentially offering an decent fit for the 2022 World Cup winner.
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Who? OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo could be a good player to target to fill the potential void left by Sergio Ramos and El Chadaille Bitshiabu while also filling in nicely while Škriniar and Presnel Kimpembe recover from their injuries. The Frenchman will want European soccer next season and Les Aiglons look likely to fall short of that.
Good and realistic fit? Todibo could be an opportunity worth exploring given that Nice will likely have a lot of unhappy players on their hands this summer with UEFA competition seemingly out of reach. The 23-year-old could pair well with captain Marquinhos immediately and later form part of a three-man back line with the Brazilian and Škriniar or eventually Kimpembe.
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Who? Juan Bernat does not really have much of a future at Parc des Princes so it could make sense to let the Spain international go this summer. The 30-year-old has two years left on his current deal and could have a good few years left in him at a decent level while also bringing in a useful fee for PSG.
Best and most realistic landing spot? Returning to Spain would make the most sense for the former Valencia man and Bernat could interest a number of La Liga sides in Europe next season. Barcelona have been linked in the past and could see him as an option should Jordi Alba move on with Sergio Busquets this summer.
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Who? Thuram’s Gladbach teammate Manu Kone has been regularly linked with PSG for the past few months and is expected to leave the Bundesliga club sooner rather than later. However, he would cost significantly more than his compatriot and the German club are also losing ex-Ligue 1 talent Ramy Bensebaini for nothing.
Good and realistic fit? Kone would certainly be a good fit with what PSG are trying to do and would offer a good solution to the continued midfield struggles. The fee would have to been considered, but it could be as much as half of what Muani’s employers Frankfurt are looking for.
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Who? Injury-prone Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches has been a bit of a flop and although Carlos Soler has not been much better, the former Lille OSC man probably makes most sense to move on. UEFA Champions League semifinalists Milan were keen before PSG landed Sanches and could come back in for the 25-year-old.
Best and most realistic landing spot? Italy seems most logical given the historic interest in him there. A new coach could hand him a reprieve but any reasonable proposals are likely to be considered.
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Who? Nice’s Khephren Thuram is another name to consider in midfield for similar reasons to those discussed earlier on the topic of Todibo. OGCN will struggle to keep their best players with no European soccer and PSG could use that to their advantage as well as the links with Jean Claude Blanc who is now overseeing INEOS’ soccer project.
Good and realistic fit? Les Parisiens are unlikely to land both Todibo and Thuram, but one or the other would be good and both would tick the French international talent box that will prove to be important this summer. Expect the 22-year-old to command a higher fee than Kone this summer, but his talent justifies that and Nice’s situation should dictate that it cannot rise too high.
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Who? Mauro Icardi is enjoying a fruitful loan spell with Galatasaray and PSG would be wise to cash in now. The Argentine is 30, has no real future in Paris and hot form like his 16 goals and seven assists in Turkey will be hard to come by if he returns to the capital and flops.
Best and most realistic landing spot? If a cut-price deal can be done with Galatasaray then Campos should go for it. Considering where PSG and Icardi’s relationship was 12 months ago, it feels like a no-brainer to take any fee offered as well as a decent wage compromise.