Benjamin Stambouli Would Be the Perfect PSG Replacement for Yohan Cabaye
For the best part of a month at the start of this summer, Paris Saint-Germain had to wait to make any moves in the transfer market until UEFA had decided whether to lighten the financial fair play (FFP) limitations imposed upon the French champions.
Those restrictions were eventually lifted, and PSG have since commenced their assault on this summer’s transfer window.
German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp has arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt, while France international midfielder Yohan Cabaye was allowed to leave Parc des Princes to return to the English Premier League with Crystal Palace.
Following Thiago Motta’s admission to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t ESPN FC’s Ian Holyman) that he feels he has gone as far as he can in Paris, Laurent Blanc’s men could be faced with the unenviable task of replacing the midfield dictator as well as his reserve.
Cabaye’s departure does not free up a space in the PSG starting XI for the likes of Adrien Rabiot, but a potential Motta exit could, and it would require the Ligue 1 giants to delve into the market for a significant purchase in order to replace the Italian.
Regardless of what happens to Motta, Les Parisiens will cover the loss of Cabaye, and it appears the capital club have identified the man they want to replace the France international.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Benjamin Stambouli is close to joining PSG according to London Evening Standard’s Simon Johnson, with a £6 million bid reportedly placed by the French outfit. It was a frustrating first season for the Frenchman at White Hart Lane, mostly used as a substitute or a squad rotation player.
Stambouli featured regularly in the cup competitions such as the UEFA Europa League, the FA Cup and the League Cup, but the former Montpellier HSC man barely got a look in for Premier League games.
The 24-year-old will almost certainly relish the chance to play a bigger role in Blanc’s team than he does in Mauricio Pochettino’s, even if he will not be a regular in the starting XI, as was the case with Cabaye.
Stambouli would be the perfect replacement for Cabaye at Parc des Princes if the move does eventually go through.
Cheaper and younger than PSG’s former No. 4, the Spurs man is a pure defensive midfielder, but is also extremely versatile. The ex-France under-21 international can just as easily step back from the midfield into the centre of defence, and he has even played full-back on rare occasions before.
Stambouli’s polyvalence would be one major lure for PSG, but the fact that he will not expect to play in every game will also be of benefit to Blanc, and Le President will have an extremely motivated player at his disposal when he is given the chance to impress.
The versatile midfielder will seize every one of his opportunities to prove himself and try to win more game time. Considering he has only been away from Le Championnat for 12 months, he won’t be taken by surprise by the return of Ligue 1’s heavy tactical emphasis in comparison with the Premier League either.
As a bonus, Stambouli also boasts UEFA Champions League experience after Montpellier HSC's 2012-13 continental campaign.
Also, if Motta does remain in Paris for the last 12 months of his contract, he would be the perfect mentor for Stambouli as the Frenchman aims to ultimately reach something close to that level.
Although not likely to burst back onto the domestic scene as France’s brightest young hope anytime soon, at 24, Stambouli still has plenty of room for development and could turn out to be an extremely shrewd investment for PSG.
Considering the options, or lack of them, available to the French champions at present, ending the player’s Spurs frustration would be the perfect move to offset the sale of Cabaye.
If it does ultimately happen, Stambouli would likely join up with the PSG squad in the USA for the International Champions Cup (ICC).
Bleacher Report is Official Media Partner of the International Champions Cup North America.
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