Scouting 3 Potential Summer Transfers for Paris Saint-Germain
This summer will be a crucial period for Paris Saint-Germain, with their squad requiring reinforcements after their UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona back in April exposed a lack of depth in quality.
Laurent Blanc’s men could complete an unprecedented domestic treble if they beat AJ Auxerre in the Coupe de France final at Stade de France later this month, having already sewn up the Ligue 1 and Coupe de la Ligue titles.
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However, the Champions League is the capital club’s priority, and their third consecutive quarter-final exit fell short of their ambitious Qatari owners’ aim of at least a semi-final berth.
If PSG are to stand any chance of bettering this season’s appearance in the last eight, then they will need greater strength in depth to avoid ill-timed injuries and suspensions affecting their competitiveness—as was the case this campaign.
UEFA’s financial fair play limitations are expected to be eased this summer, as reported by Associated Press (h/t ESPN FC). However, that does not necessarily mean Les Parisiens will be completely free of FFP.
Whichever moves the French champions make on the transfer market will have to be well thought out with an emphasis on making the most of the money they have available to them within FFP restrictions.
There has been no confirmation of how much PSG will have available to spend this summer, but it is expected to be in the region of €50 million. This is probably not enough to bring in the four or five new faces needed to boost squad depth, but it could help the French capital outfit to acquire three new players, which would be a start.
Blanc’s priority this summer, as it was last year before David Luiz was signed, is a left-sided attacker.
Manchester United’s Angel Di Maria has been touted as a possibility, while it has also been mentioned that Wolfsburg’s Kevin De Bruyne is another target by the Belgian's agent in an interview with TalkSport (via ESPNFC). However, it is the recent rumours from Gazzetta dello Sport linking PSG with a move for Lazio’s Felipe Anderson that reflect the best deal (via TalkSport).
According to that report, Les Parisiens are preparing an offer of almost €28 million, and it is thought that this figure will be enough to convince Lazio to sell the Brazilian.
The technically gifted and lightning fast 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who is also capable of using both feet and playing in a wide role as well as in the middle, would be something of a bargain at that price, assuming the TalkSport report’s valuation is correct.
With PSG expected to offload one or two underperforming high-earners, Anderson’s wage demands would likely be easy enough to satisfy and could possibly even free up some salary space to be used on another new arrival.
Admittedly, the Brazilian might not fill the left-sided role as ideally as Di Maria or De Bruyne would, but he would be far more cost effective and possess the potential to develop into a superstar.
Crucially, signing him for around €28 million would mean PSG still have approximately €22 million left to use on other targets on top of whatever else they can bring in through sales.
Next on Blanc’s list and more of a pressing need than it was back in January is an upgrade on goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. It has been a disappointing season for the Italian, who has seen his status as PSG’s first-choice 'keeper come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks.
According to Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech’s agent, Viktor Kolar, in an interview with Sport journalist Karel Haring (h/t ESPN FC), the Czech Republic international is set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and wants to join one of Arsenal, Manchester United or PSG.
At 33 years old, Cech is not the youngest, but his experience and reliability would be invaluable for Blanc, who has witnessed some shaky displays from Sirigu this season—most notably in the Champions League.
Assuming the fee is somewhere below €10 million, Cech would represent good value for money, as he probably has two or three years at the highest level still left in him. That would be enough time to help PSG out in the short term and to provide an excellent mentor for young Alphonse Areola, who could eventually take over as the team’s starting goalkeeper.
Finally, the French champions also need to be looking at potential additions in the centre of midfield because of Yohan Cabaye’s failure to impress since arriving in Paris in January of 2014.
Paul Pogba appears to be PSG’s dream signing in that area, but an improbable move for Juventus’ France international would take up most, if not all, of the club’s FFP funds and would also require a number of sales to be made on top of it for funding.
While Pogba would without doubt strengthen the starting XI, his arrival would weaken the group further, as more depth would be discarded in order to make room for him.
Manchester City’s Yaya Toure is another possibility, and PSG have been linked with his name in the past, but his astronomic wages would likely prove prohibitive. However, an alternative name has surfaced in the French press recently: Montpellier’s young midfielder Morgan Sanson.
According to France Football’s Arnaud Tulipier, the capital club are in competition with Ligue 1 rivals Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais for the 20-year-old’s signature. A fee of between €12 million to 14 million is mentioned, but a knee ligament injury could see that price tag drop a little.
Depending on how long it takes Sanson to recover, the France under-21 international would be an excellent signing for PSG in terms of value for money.
The Montpellier man is a polyvalent gem. He can play in attacking midfield, as well as occupying a defensive role, but he is also adept at playing on the right if needed. Technically gifted, he works hard and plays with remarkable maturity for someone so young.
While PSG wait to discover the exact extent of how relaxed FFP rules become this summer, it is worth the French champions planning for an assault on the transfer market with less financial freedom.
It is unlikely Les Parisiens will be given free rein to spend as they wish this summer, but they may well be allowed to splash more than the €60 million they were limited to last year. A relaxation in FFP restrictions should not necessarily mean a lavish spending spree, though.
With a bit of planning and intelligent identification of targets, PSG could conduct some impressive business without spending a fortune. For that to happen, though, it will require the club’s Qatari owners to accept the fact that squad depth is of greater importance than a marquee name ahead of next season.
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