How Big a Steal Is PSG's Summer Recruit Serge Aurier?

Last summer, after a successful World Cup campaign in Brazil with the Ivory Coast, Serge Aurier ended speculation regarding his future and signed for Paris Saint-Germain on an initial 12-month loan deal from Toulouse FC.

Built into the contract was an option for the Parisians to sign the full-back permanently this summer. At the end of April, without as much as a hint that it wouldn’t happen, the Ligue 1 champions announced the permanent signing, per PSG’s official website (h/t Sky Sports)—and for just £7.2 million, it could become the steal of the summer.

"Paris Saint-Germain is happy to announce it has triggered the option-to-buy clause for Serge Aurier. The Ivory Coast international has signed a contract with the club until June 2019."

PASCAL PAVANI/Getty Images

Throughout his time at Toulouse, the right-back had been constantly linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal said to be very interested in the international defender, per L'Equipe (h/t Daily Star).

From monitoring his progress at Le Tefece, it was easy to see why the Ivorian was attracting interest from Europe’s top clubs.

Versatility, athleticism, boundless energy and quality in both defence and attack, Aurier is the full package. Under Alain Casanova, he played in a number of positions, and not once did he look out of his depth.

Lining up as either the right centre-back or wing-back in Toulouse's 3-5-2 formation, he was also very comfortable playing right-back in a standard back four, having shown this for RC Lens, Toulouse and at international level.

In his last season with Toulouse, playing in a mixture of positions, the defender managed to score six times and added six assists—his displays, stunning in their consistency, showed just how versatile he can be all over the pitch.

However, in his first season with PSG, it seemed that something was holding him back.

"I had a bit of a tough start but a good end of season," the defender told Le Parisien (h/t Goal.com). "It was a learning year." He added:

"

Now I know the squad, it's different. I can start next season on solid foundations. The aim is to work and be well physically.

I have the quality to do something big here. I'm in a locker room with big players and I have to put myself forward.

I'm not happy with my last season but I know myself that I can do better and earn more game time than last year.

The coach will make his choices but it's up to me to show him that I'm working well.

"

Although he played in 14 league games, it was Gregory van der Wiel whom Laurent Blanc picked for the bigger matches. The Dutch defender was consistently impressive going forward, but unlike Aurier, his defensive ability left a lot to be desired.

PHILIPPE HUGUEN/Getty Images

On Friday night, in PSG’s opening 1-0 win over Lille, Aurier was at his dominant best against the tricky Eric Bautheac, but he also added an attacking outlet down the right when Lucas Moura cut inside.

After starting this pre-season playing centre-back as Thiago Silva and David Luiz took their extended break, Aurier then moved to right-back and has enjoyed an impressive first few weeks.

Signing a permanent deal will have removed any doubt in Aurier’s mind, and Blanc looks set to make the 22-year-old his first choice this season.

It may have been a transfer that initially began last season, but the 12 months that Aurier has already spent in the French capital has helped settle him down, and now, secured as one of PSG’s permanent signings, it has all the ingredients to become one of the steals of the summer.