Why Attack Is the Area PSG Should Look to Strengthen in January
Paris Saint-Germain’s moves this January transfer window are likely to be dictated by what happens with a number of players who are currently reported to be unhappy in the French capital.
According to gianlucadimarzio.com (h/t Football-Italia), Italian international Thiago Motta is considering leaving the French champions and AC Milan are keen to sign him. Meanwhile, Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football-Italia) claim that Ezequiel Lavezzi is unhappy in Paris and unsure of his future.
Without taking either player’s possible exits into account, or any other possible departures, the area that the PSG squad need strengthening at present is in attack. Laurent Blanc’s men are lacking a creative presence out wide, one that is also capable of chipping in with regular goals as well.
VfL Wolfsburg’s Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne is a name that has been linked with PSG by Eurosport.fr’s (in French) Lucile Alard, as well as Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen and Stade Rennais’ Paul-Georges Ntep.
The problem for PSG and many other clubs in the UEFA Champions League looking to strengthen this month is that it is difficult to find the ideal player to bring in because so many of them are already cup-tied.
De Bruyne is no different, with Wolfsburg still in the UEFA Europa League, so signing the 23-year-old Belgian in the case of a Lavezzi departure would not necessarily strengthen the capital club’s squad on all fronts.
Eriksen is also cup-tied, with Spurs still in Europe, so the situation would be the same with him, leaving Ntep as the most realistic option out of the three.
The problem with Ntep is that he is at the perfect club for him at this moment in time. Rennes do not—realistically—have much chance of keeping him past the end of the season, but the 22-year-old sensation would be foolish to leave at this moment when he is progressing so rapidly.
Because of his current developmental status, Ntep is also a risk for PSG—as is De Bruyne as well in fairness—meaning that PSG might have to set their sights elsewhere if they really are determined to strengthen this January.
However, there are a number of other concerns in the squad that could change Blanc’s plans for the French giants.
Teenage midfielder Adrien Rabiot is perennially linked with a move away, per the Daily Star, and he could yet depart on a loan without option to buy as it forms part of his contract extension that was agreed at the end of 2014. Clement Chantome could also be eyeing an exit after the Express reported interest from English Premier League side Everton.
If Rabiot, Chantome or Motta were to move, that makes acquiring a central midfielder of paramount importance for PSG this month. However, an exit for disgruntled star striker Edinson Cavani could also alter Les Parisiens’ plans.
According to the Express, the Uruguayan international could leave in a big-money January move after being disciplined by the French champions for his no-show at their mid-season training camp in Morocco.
However, any clubs interested in buying El Matador would be facing the same problems that PSG are facing in their pursuit of a creative wide man right now. The South American would be cup-tied in Europe for as long as the French side remain in the Champions League, making a big-money move extremely risky.
It is most likely that PSG try to keep their current squad intact, possibly being forced to sanction a six-month loan of Rabiot because of his contract clause, before making a number of moves this summer.
While Blanc would no doubt like to add to his group in an ideal world, the players who would really strengthen this PSG team are either unavailable or not certain to be eligible in Europe. Without that guarantee, there is little point in the French giants trying to reshuffle their squad at the present time.
Blanc leaving himself potentially undermanned for the second half of the season would threaten to undermine the club’s objectives for the season.
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