Why Sergio Aguero Is the Man PSG Should Target as Zlatan Ibrahimovic Replacement
Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 campaign may now be over after they beat Stade de Reims 3-2 at Parc des Princes on Saturday evening, but Laurent Blanc’s men still have a Coupe de France final to play before they can go on holiday.
Star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic has missed PSG's last two matches, against Montpellier HSC and Reims, but he could return from his calf injury to face AJ Auxerre at Stade de France on May 30. Once the final has been played, attention will switch firmly to this summer, and copious amounts of speculation will no doubt ensue.
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PSG’s Edinson Cavani will likely be the main focus of that speculation—at least to start with. For the first time since he arrived in the French capital back in 2012, Ibrahimovic will also find himself among the rumours.
Former PSG head of recruitment Alain Roche recently suggested to Le 10 Sport (h/t Joe Wright of Goal) that the club could pay the Swede to leave this summer if they feel that he has nothing left to offer the French champions.
However, the club sacked former France international Roche not long after the arrival of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) as owners in 2011. Ever since, the 47-year-old has been grinding his axe against his former employers, so his comments should be taken with a pinch of salt.
The likelihood of PSG paying Ibrahimovic to leave or even considering parting company with the 33-year-old this summer is slim, but there is no doubt the talismanic striker’s status in Paris is not as secure as it was in either of the past two seasons.
Instead, it is more likely that the Ligue 1 giants will start to plan for life without their No. 10 and begin to identify possible targets to replace him ahead of his contract's expiration in the summer of 2016.
With UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) sanctions likely to still be in play next summer, even though they could be relaxed, reported by Owen Gibson of the Guardian, the chances of luring a superstar such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar or Luis Suarez are low.
However, to replace Ibrahimovic adequately, PSG will be looking for a player who can take and make chances in equal measure.
The talismanic Swede is a rare blend of the creative and the clinical, so PSG are arguably better off concentrating on looking for one prolific figure to take on his goalscoring burden and sharing it with Cavani before locating a creator to provide both with the ammunition they need to thrive.
In Javier Pastore, Blanc’s men arguably already have that creative genius, so what PSG must identify is the marksman to replace Ibrahimovic.
Manchester City and Argentina’s Sergio Aguero would be the perfect player to target.
The South American is a vastly different type of attacking talent to Ibrahimovic, but Kun, as he is known, is lethal in front of goal and would fit neatly into this current PSG squad.
Aguero has hit more than 20 goals across all competitions in three of his four seasons at the Etihad Stadium, yet the Citizens are failing to make the same sort of progress as PSG on the continental stage.
The former Atletico Madrid man could be tempted by a move to Ligue 1 if the French capital outfit can find the money to bring him in.
Aguero’s City contract runs until 2019, so he would not come cheap, but another season of underachievement in the UEFA Champions League could lead him to push for a move away from Eastlands.
Capable of playing through the middle and far more compatible with Cavani than Ibrahimovic, the Argentinian would have no problems bedding in. El Matador and Pastore, the two key figures with whom the 26-year-old would need to function, both speak Spanish—El Flaco is also an international team-mate.
The Manchester City man might not blend seamlessly into Blanc’s preferred 4-3-3 formation, but the current PSG squad have shown they can also function adequately in a 4-4-2 shape, and this would suit both Aguero and Cavani.
Manchester City’s No. 16 possesses the sort of pace and clinical ability in front of goal that would complement Cavani, but his qualities would also bring the best out of the likes of Pastore and Lucas Moura.
The English Premier League outfit are unlikely to ever want to cash in on Aguero. However, if Les Parisiens continue to outperform them on the European stage, then the Argentinian could force his current employers to allow him to leave.
If such a situation ever arises, PSG should do everything in their power to snap him up. Aguero, along with Cavani, would be the perfect player to fill Ibrahimovic’s sizeable boots at Parc des Princes in the future.
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