Imagining a PSG Midfield with Paul Pogba in the Centre

In France, it has gone quiet on the subject of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba’s future recently.

The last time the 22-year-old’s name was mentioned in connection with French champions Paris Saint-Germain, it was RMC (h/t Get Football News France) confirming that the capital club are still keen to acquire the France international. That same report claimed that the player has not completely ruled out a move to Parc des Princes.

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However, since then, Juventus have reached the UEFA Champions League final and Pogba could now realistically stay in Turin past the end of this season as the Italian giants have no reason to sell and he has no clear reason to leave.

The likelihood of the Frenchman staying at Juventus Stadium will not stop PSG and their supporters from dreaming of adding the prodigiously talented youngster to their squad though.

It seems that Les Parisiens’ desire—like that of many football clubs and fans—is to see Pogba link up with Marco Verratti in midfield.

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The problem for the French champions there is that the Italian giants are keen to take the Azzurri star to Turin and might only accept the pint-sized midfielder as part of the bargain, undermining the point of PSG’s interest in Pogba.

Should the Ligue 1 giants find a way to overcome Juventus’ desire to bring Verratti to Serie A for the first time in his career and a way to navigate UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) sanctions that limit them financially, then perhaps those dreams could become reality.

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However, until then, the thought of Pogba returning to his native Paris is something that will be firmly lodged in the realms of fantasy.

If Pogba does make an improbable return to France this summer, then there is no doubt that he would strengthen Laurent Blanc’s current starting XI—even if PSG’s squad depth would suffer as a result.

Le President has his team playing in a 4-3-3 formation most of the time and if his fellow Frenchman were to be at his disposal, the 49-year-old would be faced with a tough decision over which of his three first-choice midfielders would make way for Pogba.

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Another option for Blanc would be to go with a 4-4-2 diamond in order to keep Javier Pastore in his most effective position, but either way, one of Verratti, fellow Italian Thiago Motta or France international Blaise Matuidi would need to make way for the new arrival.

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Most likely, taking into account age and current form, is that Motta would be the player to make way.

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Although the Brazil-born Italian is still an important figure in the team because of his leadership skills, the 32-year-old did not enjoy the best of season’s last campaign and his future is up in the air at the moment.

Verratti can play in Motta’s preferred deep-lying role, even if he is often played in a slightly more advanced position to the right of his compatriot in Blanc’s current system. So moving the 22-year-old into a deeper role would still get the best out of the midfield terrier, even if it means that he would have greater responsibility.

Pogba could then take the more advanced role in front of Verratti and on the right, with Matuidi on the left.

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There is of course the possibility that Blanc could opt to bring the France international out of the starting XI in order to make way for his fellow Frenchman, but this is a mistake that people might be tempted to make.

Although Matuidi perhaps does not enjoy the same reputation that Verratti and Motta do, the PSG No. 14 remains one of world football’s most underrated players and removing him from that midfield three would be akin to taking the engine out of a car and expecting it to run.

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Since arriving in Paris, Matuidi has proved time and again that he absolutely deserves to be considered indispensable to the French giants. His irrepressible work rate and all-rounder nature make him irreplaceable and that would not change with Pogba’s arrival.

A midfield three consisting of Verratti, Pogba and Matuidi behind Pastore, with Edinson Cavani and one of Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Lucas Moura in front of the Argentina international would arguably be PSG’s strongest starting XI if PSG were to succeed in luring Pogba from Juventus.

However, the chances of that happening this summer look slim to none at present with FFP still an issue, so this is likely to remain a dream for Les Parisiens for at least another 12 months or so.