Keys to a Successful 2016 January Transfer Window for PSG
The January transfer window is almost here and for French champions Paris Saint-Germain, the challenge will be to keep their current momentum going.
However, the winter business period has the potential to destabilise Laurent Blanc’s men and there are a number of keys to the January window for the Ligue 1 leaders.
Most importantly for Les Parisiens, only a minimal number of departures should be sanctioned at Parc des Princes next month.
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Deposed former first-choice goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, reluctant reserve shot-stopper Nicolas Douchez and peripheral wide man Ezequiel Lavezzi might all—understandably—wish to leave because of a lack of starting appearances.
If any of the Italian, Frenchman or Argentinian want to leave, then Blanc should grant their wish as it threatens the squad’s harmony if there are players in the capital who cannot accept not being an integral part of Le President’s plans.
Sirigu has been dislodged in goal by summer signing Kevin Trapp, so the Italy international is understandably worried for his role as Antonio Conte’s second-choice goalkeeper in the Azzurri squad ahead of the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
The 28-year-old is yet to play in the UEFA Champions League for PSG this season, so he is not cup-tied for any potential interested parties in January. Letting the former Palermo shot-stopper move on would mean that Douchez can take back his regular position on the bench as a substitute.
At 35, the Frenchman could move on elsewhere and there would surely still be some takers for the veteran netminder in Ligue 1.
However, it makes more sense that Sirigu is allowed to leave to keep his Euro 2016 hopes alive and that Douchez is able to remain in Paris to finish his career. Perhaps at the end of the campaign, he will retire and become a member of staff in the same way Zoumana Camara has done since ending his playing career last season.
As for Lavezzi, the Argentina international is out of contract in the summer of 2016 and it looks highly unlikely that he will even be offered new terms. PSG could attempt to cash in on El Pocho in January, but the South American’s lack of form may well deter suitors from tabling a transfer fee.
What is more likely to happen with the 30-year-old is that he remains in Paris until the end of the season and then leaves on a free transfer.
As far as their playing ability goes, Douchez and Lavezzi do not add too much to the squad—although the latter, in theory, offers an injection of pace. However, both are vibrant characters off the pitch and are important in the dressing room and in terms of group chemistry.
Sirigu is also an influential figure, particularly among the Italian speakers, but he offers too much on the pitch and—understandably—is unable to accept a bit-part role.
If PSG want to avoid any potential disruption within the squad in January, then they should look to move Sirigu on, but to keep Douchez as Trapp’s backup and also Lavezzi as an impact substitute and occasional starter.
Another key to a successful winter window for Les Parisiens will be to avoid any significant changes, particularly those potentially concerning regular members of the starting XI.
Edinson Cavani has been a regular source of January transfer gossip over the past couple of years, while Lucas Moura has been linked with struggling Premier League side Manchester United, per the Manchester Evening News' Andrew Jackson, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s contract expires at the end of the season.
All three players—and more—will no doubt have their names linked with a variety of potential moves during the January window. However, all three will almost certainly still be at Parc des Princes come the beginning of February.
Why? Because PSG are currently enjoying a very good run of form and everything appears to be working well on and off the pitch. If Blanc loses an important member of his squad in January, then that sequence could quickly dissipate if group depth is tested by injuries or suspensions.
One or two big names, such as Cavani, Ibrahimovic or Lucas, could move on at the end of the season. Until then, though, PSG need to keep their most established stars if they want to get as close as possible to achieving their ambitious goals this season.
As well as the peripheral figures keen to find more first-team football, such as Sirigu, Douchez and Lavezzi, there are a number of younger players who are also keen to boost their playing time.
The likes of Adrien Rabiot and Marquinhos are both important members of Blanc’s squad, but neither are permanent fixtures in the 50-year-old’s ideal starting XI. The France under-21, in particular, has been vocal about his desire for a greater number of starting appearances.
Speaking with Le Figaro (h/t ESPN FC) earlier this month, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi admitted that he was disappointed by Rabiot’s comments on French television to Telefoot and threatening to force a move away from the club.
Al-Khelaifi said:
"I was very disappointed—I said it to his face. His statements are unacceptable. I didn't appreciate at all that he declared that a loan would be a Christmas present. It's a complete lack of respect towards his first club who did so much for him.
He's 20 years old, plays regularly in a big team. He's come through the youth academy—the club has given him a lot. I'll never accept that he considers himself more important than the club.
The club will always be more important than any player. He's a big talent. My dream is that he might become captain of PSG one day. But he has to respect the club, the coach and his team-mates.
He's part of the PSG family and he should respect it. He understood the message. He'll be there at 100 per cent in January.
"
Potential departures could upset the balance in the PSG squad at present, but so too could new additions. At this moment in time and considering the team’s overall good form, there are no new faces desperately needed.
The French champions have been linked with the likes of Lille OSC's Sofiane Boufal by Telefoot (h/t Get French Football News) and Stade Rennais’ Paul-Georges Ntep by L’Equipe (in French) relatively recently.
However, if the capital club were to bring in either rising star, then it would surely have to be an upgrade on a departed Lavezzi. Also, in an ideal world, PSG would be able to acquire one of the two bright prospects and then loan them back to their current teams until the end of the season.
Although both would be great additions with the future in mind, they would benefit greatly from being able to see out the remainder of the campaign in their current surroundings with Euro 2016 looming.
Another key to a smooth January window is to avoid controversy. Last year, Cavani and Lavezzi did not report for the winter training camp in Morocco—as reported by ESPN FC’s Ian Holyman—and their selfish actions made a difficult moment in a disappointing season even more awkward.
The Uruguayan and the Argentinian’s actions added fuel to the fire that they could have left PSG that month and the result was a very disruptive month, where more was said about off-the-pitch incidents instead of on-the-field exploits.
Finally, and it may sound obvious, the runaway Ligue 1 leaders need to remain injury-free. At present, PSG are in formidable form and no French or European adversaries will be looking forward to taking them on over the next few months.
The likes of Ibrahimovic, Angel Di Maria and Thiago Silva are in impeccable form and if they can stay out of the treatment room and in their current shape, then Blanc’s men can go far across all fronts once again.
If all of this can be achieved and PSG’s dominant current form can be maintained, then it will have been a very successful January for Le President and his men.
If next month passes without incident, then the French giants might finally be able to realise their main goal of getting to the semi-finals of the Champions League or better.
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