Why Nabil Fekir Is 1 Player PSG Will Regret Not Signing This Summer

After four games, Paris Saint-Germain are top of the table and their perfect start looks ominous for the rest of Ligue 1. This summer’s marquee signing, Angel Di Maria, made his debut in the 3-0 win over predicted rivals Monaco, and he gave everyone a glimpse of what he will add to the champions' attack.

Although so early in the season, it’s easy to see the short-term improvements Di Maria will add, but looking long-term, Olympique Lyonnais forward Nabil Fekir could be the one player PSG will regret not signing during the 2015 summer transfer window.

Linked with a move to the capital this summer, via ESPN FC, it was in Paris on Friday night where Ligue 1 fans were hit with a devastating blow. After making his first international start with France in the friendly against Portugal, Fekir had to leave the game after just 14 minutes.

It was initially reported as a knee sprain, but as noted by Le Parisien's Julian Laurens, Fekir has ruptured his cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss six months of action:

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Well that early sprained knee diagnosis was way off the mark. Awful news for Fekir, Lyon and France. https://t.co/E80ghrlpwR

— FFW (@FrenchFtWeekly) September 4, 2015"

Di Maria walked seamlessly into Laurent Blanc’s 4-3-3 formation. Coming on to play on the right of the three, he showed his ability to cut on to his lef-foot and pick a pass, setting up Ezequiel Lavezzi for PSG’s third goal against Monaco.

At the back of last season, as PSG romped toward their third consecutive Ligue 1 crown, arguably the best football they played came in a tweaked 4-3-1-2 formation. The defence and midfield remained the same, but with Javier Pastore playing the No. 10 role behind Edinson Cavani and eventually Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front, the Parisians were unstoppable.

To illustrate the point, Cavani scored 10 of his 18 goals in the last seven league games. It’s a system that suited him much better than the 4-3-3, but the Uruguayan looks set for another season of cutting inside from the wing.

As previously discussed in this column, PSG could lose both Ibrahimovic and Cavani next summer. And with question marks over the sustained fitness of the Swedish forward—already having missed the first three games of the season—signing Fekir from Lyon could have worked on a number of levels.

For Hubert Fournier’s side, the explosive Fekir has played in a strike duo with Alexandre Lacazette—he started beside Karim Benzema for Les Bleus on Friday—and has also excelled in the role just behind the forwards.

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

The 22-year-old enjoyed a wonderful campaign last season, with 13 goals and nine assists—it became clear he has the potential to become a very special player. With a low centre of gravity, explosive acceleration and the ability to play off both feet—Fekir would add that spark that PSG sometimes missed during some of their frustrating performances.

One player PSG did sign was France left-back Layvin Kurzawa. It is a move that not only strengthens the squad, but it keeps the money inside France. Monaco pick up a hefty fee, not clubs like Manchester United, Napoli or AC Milan—Les Monegasques have shown they will reinvest that in Ligue 1 talent, just like Lyon did in the past.

During their run of winning seven consecutive titles, Les Gones bought the likes of Michael Essien from Troyes and Florent Malouda from Guingamp, then sold them on for a profit. It looks like they have gone back to that plan, combining youth graduates with the likes of Claudio Beauvue, also from Guingamp, and Valenciennes’ Lucas Tousart.

It’s a two-edged sword, as well as in one way helping the league and the clubs—you are strengthening your squad while instantaneously weakening your rivals.

Lyon will be hurt by Fekir's absence, slightly less than they would have been if they had sold him this summer, but weakened nonetheless. They may still have Lacazette, Beauvue and Mathieu Valbuena, but as his hat-trick against Caen showed, Fekir is a special talent.

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OFFICIAL: Lyon's Nabil Fekir, Anthony Lopes & Corentin Tolisso have all signed new contracts until 2020. #OL pic.twitter.com/ZDeiOoQVk2

— FFW (@FrenchFtWeekly) July 8, 2015"

Jean-Michel Aulas is one of the savviest presidents in world football. He has managed to keep his young Lyon team together. Handing a number of key players—including Fekir and Lacazette—new contracts, almost guaranteeing he gets the maximum fee when they do decide to cash in.

Manchester United's lavish fee for Anthony Martial has set a precedent. Aulas will know that, and he will make sure his players are not undersold.

Lyon will receive 20 percent of what Monaco receive for Martial, per ESPN FC. Combine that with the €5 million they already picked up when they sold him two summers ago and they could end up making over €20 million on a player who only made three sub appearances.

It baffles the mind to predict what he will require for someone with Fekir's talent. Compared to Martial, he's three years older, slightly more proven and has the same potential to become one of the world’s best—Aulas is holding all the cards.

With the possible departures of Cavani and Ibrahimovic to come, PSG would need to spend wise and spend big next summer.

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

For Fekir, the concentration now is on making sure he gets back to full fitness before taking a chance on his health. The initial prognosis rules him out for six months; he needs to take his time, not rush back, making sure he is 100 percent, not for the Euros, but for next season.

Given some games at the end of the season to show the efforts of his recovery, it is likely that clubs will look to pounce, perhaps looking for a cut-price deal. PSG will likely be at the front of the queue.