Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Paul Pogba Reportedly Targeted by PSG

Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba and Angel Di Maria this summer, according to L’Equipe (h/t Charles Perrin of the Express).

Having just completed a hat-trick of Ligue 1 title wins, thoughts are now turning to next season and how Laurent Blanc’s squad will be strengthened.

With UEFA president Michel Platini suggesting that financial fair play regulations will be eased, per Matt Slater of the BBC, PSG could be freed up to spend more money on new signings.

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And their targets reportedly include Barcelona star Messi, Juventus midfielder Pogba and Manchester United winger Di Maria.

Prising Messi away from Barcelona is highly unlikely, although Eric Abidal has previously said his former team-mate may be interested in a move to PSG if he fancies a new challenge. Abidal told TF1 (h/t Ian Holyman of ESPN) earlier this year:

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Having won everything with Barcelona, perhaps he would like a different challenge, being able to win trophies with another club, that remains a possibility. It’s true that PSG have, for a while now, been able to put a good squad together, a good team with an attitude, a desire, a determination and objectives to be achieved. It’s perhaps a club that he would like.

"

But even if the financial fair play rules are relaxed, it is unlikely PSG would still be able to afford a deal for Messi—and that’s before you even get to the stage of considering whether Barcelona would sell.

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Messi’s fellow Argentina international Di Maria is a more realistic target after a difficult first season at United. Di Maria started promisingly following his move from Real Madrid, but he has struggled to get a spot in the starting lineup in recent weeks.

United manager Louis van Gaal wants Di Maria to adapt to his “philosophy,” per Simon Rice of the Independent, and the player himself has spoken of his disappointment with his debut season in the Premier League.

Di Maria said, per Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star: “I'm not happy with my first year in England. I moved here from Real to win titles and this season has been very bad for me. I'm frustrated because I want to do better.”

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Former United defender Gary Neville is confident that Di Maria can come good at Old Trafford, per Sky Sports, even after a deal was agreed to sign Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven.

Neville said: “It will be interesting to see what happens with Angel Di Maria as well. Actually, I believe in Di Maria as a player. We’ve watched him a lot for Real Madrid and you could see his level of performance was outstanding.”

Interest from PSG is no surprise, given the team's president Nasser Al-Khelaifi claims Di Maria would have joined the club last summer if it had not been for financial fair play, per Le Parisien (h/t James Robson of the Manchester Evening News).

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The other high-profile player reportedly on PSG’s wanted list is Pogba, who met Al-Khelaifi in Monaco in April, per Ben Gladwell of ESPN.

Pogba has helped Juve win another Serie A title and reach the Champions League final for the first time in 12 years. But the midfielder has been linked with most of Europe’s big clubs.

Per Sean Kearns of the Metro, Manchester City have offered Pogba £250,000 a week to join. He is also a priority signing for his former club United, per Jamie Jackson of the Observer.

Juventus are determined to hold onto Pogba, per Gladwell, and it’s going to cost a huge sum of money to persuade them to sell, but PSG do have the funds to compete with other clubs.

Persuading Pogba to move to Ligue 1 will be a bigger issue for PSG, and Di Maria is a more realistic option this summer.

The recent form of Ashley Young, allied to the signing of Depay, has ensured that United are not reliant on Di Maria to deliver the goods. If PSG offer enough money, then he seems to be the most likely big name to arrive at the Parc des Princes in time for next season.

As for Messi, that is just a pipe-dream.