Grzegorz Krychowiak the Ideal Upgrade for Paris Saint-Germain's Midfield

Paris Saint-Germain are set to sign their first player this summer, and it not only points to the direction the team will take next season, but also provides the midfield with the boost it needed for an assault on the Champions League.

According to France Football (h/t Get French Football News) PSG are set to pay Sevilla the entirety of the Grzegorz Krychowiak's release clause. It is reported that the €45 million fee will be needed to secure his signature.

As expected, it should all but secure Unai Emery's place as the new boss in Paris, and the Polish midfielder is apparently his first sanctioned move.

No stranger to the French league, Krychowiak made to move to Spain from Stade de Reims, but he also had spells at both Bordeaux and Nantes. He played for the two-time European Cup finalists from the third division, Ligue 2 all the way to their return to the top-flight in 2012.

After two seasons in La Liga, his stock his increased massively. Playing a huge part in Sevilla's double Europa League success. He has been linked with a move in the past, but he admitted that Emery's decision to stay in Andalucia last summer helped his decision to stay.

The 25-year-old was quoted as telling Polish sports daily Przeglad Sportowy (h/t FourFourTwo):

"

Unai's decision to stay was crucial for me. I wanted to form part of his project and only his, nobody else's.

If he had left to go to another club it's probable I would have seriously considered doing the same. Emery is part of my success. He believes in me. We are twin souls, we are a perfect fit, our philosophies are very similar.

I have only been at Sevilla for a year but I owe a lot to the manager.

"

With Emery set to be confirmed next week, according to Marca, Krychowiak's signing will be the first step in the Spanish coach putting his own stamp on the Ligue 1 champions.

As previously discussed in this column, Emery has often favoured playing 4-2-3-1, and the Polish midfielder has played a massive role in his two-man midfield.

In the season just gone, Krychowiak started 25 games in La Liga, and according to WhoScored.com, he averaged 2.5 tackles per games, an impressive 4.5 interceptions, and 3.0 clearances. That highlights his importance off the ball.

He will provide protection in front of an already-impressive defence and give Emery a huge upgrade on the declining skills of Thiago Motta.

In PSG's midfield, only Adrien Rabiot made as many tackles. No one in the squad got close to Krychowiak's interceptions—Serge Aurier the closest with 3.4 per game—and Motta with 0.8 clearances is the nearest midfielder to the Polish international.

For Sevilla, his pass completion was up at 84.3 percent, that will only increase with PSG. As will his average passes per game, currently at 45.9. It's hard to compare the passing statistics with teams in different leagues, 22 players at PSG finished with a pass completion of over 85 percent and even Benjamin Stambouli, who started 18 games, made 50.8 passes per game.

Expect Krychowiak to edge up towards 80 passes per game in Ligue 1 next season.

When Sevilla lost Ivan Rakitic, sporting director Ramon Rodriguez Monchi was tasked by Emery to find him "a beast, a physical prodigy," he told the IBTimes UK.

He continued:

"

I know what are my duties as a sporting director. And Unai Emery knows his functions as well. I don't have anything to do with tactics, lineups or physical condition. When season reaches to an end, Emery talks to me about player profiles.

[...]

When we analyzed Krychowiak's skills, we were sure that he matched exactly Unai Emery's description. We went to french football to find this kind of midfielder. Ligue 1, the same as Belgian League, allows you to find these kind of bargains if you follow these tournaments every week.

"

From leaving Reims for just €5 million in 2014, his stock has risen very quickly. If PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was attracted to Emery due to his success in Europe, you have to believe that the 26-year-old's involvement has brought a similar attraction.

As a signing, it makes a lot of sense. He knows the league and the country. He gives PSG a level of bite and fight in the midfield that they have often lacked. Plus, he has the trust of the manager and will help usher in the era of Unai Emery.

If the new boss is to move to 4-2-3-1, the next question for PSG fans will be who plays beside their new €45 million signing. When back to full fitness, following his trip to Munich in Germany, Marco Verratti will be the natural partner.

The Italian adds that tenacious streak, his passing and dictation of the game is tremendous, and he would likely complement the Pole perfectly.

However, that does leave a few problems within the squad. Blaise Matuidi has been a huge part of PSG’s midfield during their run to four consecutive Ligue 1 titles. Obviously, there will still be space and games for him to play, but a reduced role will be hard for him to take.

It will also reduce Adrien Rabiot's playing time, unless he learns to play in the No. 10 role that Ever Banega has done for Emery at Sevilla.

On the positive side, it would give PSG more strength in depth.  Against Manchester City in the Champions League, playing without Matuidi and Verratti forced Laurent Blanc to change his tactics.

PSG were distinctively weaker, and their lack of presence through the centre played a huge part in their elimination. Having to pick just two central midfielders, while having another option of great quality, instantly makes the Parisians a tougher and much more formidable opponent.

Before going on to win the Europa League last season, Sevilla played six games in the UEFA Champions League, and according to WhoScored, Krychowiak was nominated as their Man of the Match despite losing 2-1 away at Manchester City.

He was everywhere. Attempting shots, completing a high number of passes and trying to protect the defence. You may be able to deride the level of competition in La Liga, or Ligue 1, but he has shown an ability to perform against Europe’s best.

Something not everyone at PSG can claim to have achieved this season.