Scouting Paris Saint-Germain Transfer Target Sofiane Boufal

The January transfer window is upon us and for clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, the trick is trying to locate players that can add quality to the squad, but who are not ineligible to play in the Champions League. In Lille’s Sofiane Boufal, they are being linked to a player that undoubtedly ticks both boxes.

Ezequiel Lavezzi's agent Alejandro Mazzoni told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli (h/t David Wright of the Daily Express) that the winger could finally leave the club this winter, and with Laurent Blanc keen to find a replacement, Boufal could be the player that takes El Pocho’s place, according to Telefoot (h/t Get French Football News).

A few years ago, and in nearly every subsequent transfer window since, PSG have been linked with a move for Chelsea’s Eden Hazard; in Boufal, they would be signing the man who has become his heir apparent at Lille.

It was only 12 months ago that the 22-year-old signed for the northern club from Ligue 2 side SCO Angers. At first it was thought that he would return on loan, but Lille felt he could make an instant contribution to Les Dogues.

Under Rene Girard, it took a few weeks for the winger to find his feet, but once he did, it was clear that Lille had a special player on their hands.

Boufal would have to wait until his fifth start to open his account, but it showcased exactly what he was all about. Using his skill on the ball he beat Evian's Daniel Wass down the left, the Dane was tempted to leave his foot in, and he couldn’t help but pull Boufal down for a penalty. The Lille No. 7 took charge and dispatched his first strike for the club, winning all three points.

After that game, there was no stopping Boufal. He followed that up with two assists against Bordeaux. Teasing on the left wing, his right-foot cross found the head of Nolan Roux. He would then show great awareness and determination to keep the ball under pressure, then he picked out Adama Traore with a wonderful ball over the defence. The Malian added the finish to seal a 2-0 win.

With two excellent performances under his belt, Boufal would travel to Paris full of confidence. Although Lille were soundly beaten 6-1 by PSG, it was the opposition youngster that caught the eye with a magnificent piece of individual skill.

To have the audacity to dance past the Parisian defence in the Parc des Princes, although eventually crowded out, was a moment of genius. Perhaps the sort of moment that sticks in a coach’s mind.

If Boufal is being targeted to replace Lavezzi in the PSG squad, it's easy to see why. He may not have the same flat-out pace as the Argentinian, or look to break in behind defences off the ball, but he is phenomenal with the ball at his feet.

Boufal excels when he has the chance to stand up an opponent and beat them off the dribble. This creates gaps at the back and stretches defences. Although he might not have the same presence as either Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Angel Di Maria, no matter what level you are playing at, defenders would have to respect Boufal’s ability to commit players and ghost past them.

Give the winger too much space and he will punish you, but mark him too tight and he will leave you exposed.

Last Sunday, French TV show Telefoot (h/t Get French Football News) asked Boufal about the link to PSG and the winger didn’t exactly play down the move.

He said:

"

Of course PSG is the type of club that you dream about, it is the only French club that could win a European trophy.

They have an absolutely magnificent project. It is a club in the top three, top four in Europe. They want to bring in great players but also very promising players and of course it is a project that interests me.

"

Before the game against Caen this weekend, Blanc was asked about Boufal at the pre-match press conference, via Foot Mercato (in French). The former France coach was coy in his response, praising the Lille player’s dribbling ability and his performances in Ligue 1.

If brought to the French capital, Boufal would fit comfortably on the left of the PSG attack. Despite being more comfortable on his right foot, he likes to hang wide and cut inside onto his stronger foot. This would leave either Maxwell or Layvin Kurzawa to provide the width, but it doesn’t mean Boufal isn’t capable of hitting the by-line and providing quality service into the box.

The youngster has the ability to play all along the front line. He is quick and agile enough to play through the centre and is constantly showing improvements in his upper-body strength.

This season has been a mixture of quality and frustration for Boufal. As a club, Lille struggled under the guidance of Herve Renard, but Boufal continued to provide some hope for the fans.

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After 10 games, Boufal had scored four goals in a team that had only managed to find the net five times.

However, he does have as many yellow cards as goals, showcasing the hot-head attitude that can creep in. Against Bastia, perhaps harshly, he was sent off for a lunging tackle. The winger missed three games and the start of Frederic Antonetti’s tenure as Lille coach.

As the only member of the Lille attack to show any quality, teams began to learn how to deal with Boufal. That led to some quiet and frustrating performances this season. It is something that he needs to learn from, and a good reason for him to stay at Lille in the short term.

Boufal also needs to further develop his decision-making. He has been accused of holding on to the ball when a simple pass would be the better option, but that will come with playing games at this level. It’s easy to forget that he has only made 29 appearances in Ligue 1.

If a move to a club like PSG did materialise, he would find it much easier to create and find space to get on the ball and dazzle defences. It’s much harder for clubs to focus on just one player when taking on the might of the Parisians.

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Where Boufal would also excel is when defences sit back and try to frustrate the Ligue 1 champions. His close control dribbling is outstanding, giving him the ability to dance through the tightest of back lines. That is a trait that could massively help Blanc going forward.

Sometimes players can move too quickly, and that would be a risk for Boufal. There is no guarantee he would play every week, and at this stage of his career, minutes on the pitch are the most important factor in his development.

If Blanc needs to find a replacement for Lavezzi this winter, Boufal would be a superb option for the club, but a loan spell back to Lille could be more beneficial for the player’s development in the long term.