Scouting PSG Transfer Target Jese Rodriguez of Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain are in the market for a forward. That much is clear. On the front page of Friday’s edition of L’Equipe, the paper throws in two suggestions: Olympique Lyonnais star Alexandre Lacazette and Real Madrid’s Jese Rodriguez.

As previously discussed in this column, the French striker would be a great option, but it’s unclear whether OL president Jean-Michel Aulas would be willing to deal with the Parisian giants. Plus, it would severely weaken the team best suited to challenging the champions this season.

Jese, on the other hand, could be available, and as the French daily suggested, he is looking for a new challenge. Even his boss, France legend Zinedine Zidane, has made it clear the door is open for the forward to find a new home.

"It is a difficult situation," Zidane said at a recent press conference when asked whether he would recommend moving to Jese. "Having a big squad means problems for the teams. But that is what comes with being Madrid coach. I have no problem with the idea of putting in the kids coming through. Many go and then return—like [Alvaro] Morata, Lucas [Vazquez] and [Dani] Carvajal.

He continued:

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I am delighted with the squad I have and we will need them with many games to come. Jese is part of that squad and it's true that last year he did not play much. If I were his friend, or family member, I would tell him to look for more playing time. But I am his coach and maybe he can get that here. We will see. I am happy with him, I know him well, I know his quality.

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L’Equipe, labelled Jese as "the eternal understudy." He has never been able to burst from beneath the shadow of the BBC of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo, but there is no shame in that. However, it is hindering the Spaniard’s career.

Great things were expected of the 23-year-old after he scored five times as Spain lifted the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. That was 12 months after Morata had scored six times as Spain lifted the same trophy.

Perhaps Jese will have to follow in the footsteps of the returning striker in order to kickstart his career. Morata moved to Juventus, won the Serie A title twice and scored in a Champions League final before Real Madrid activated the clause that allowed them to bring him back to the Spanish capital this summer.

Morata may not even play for Real this season, but his stock has never been higher.

Jese, born in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, made his debut in December 2011, replacing Ronaldo. Jose Mourinho was in charge then, and Jese was only 18 years old. Real have changed boss three times since that day, yet nothing has changed for the forward.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Nearly five years later, he is still a factor off the bench but is never given a start when the Madrid club are at full strength. Last season was his best return for the club—scoring five times and contributing six assists, per WhoScored.com.

He only managed to start seven games in La Liga, though, coming off the bench 21 times, accumulating 827 minutes of league football. That was his best campaign since 2013/14, when in four starts he also scored five times and picked up four assists in 592 minutes.

The former Spain under-21 international is a talented forward, someone who deserves to be playing more and could flourish in a number of clubs. However, it is unclear where he would fit into the PSG squad.

"Jese is a wide forward who can operate on either the left or right and theoretically down the middle too, although probably to reduced effect,” said Bleacher Report’s Rik Sharma when asked what Jese would bring to PSG and where he could possibly play. Sharma continued:

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He's quite waspish, drifting in and out of games at times but has the capacity to beat his man and create danger, either giving himself or a team-mate a chance to score.

Jese has never enjoyed a long run of games in Madrid's team—not through any fault of his own necessarily, but it's hard to displace the BBC—so his potential is hard to judge. However, the explosive wide man has the raw attributes to be a dangerous weapon in the right hands, especially from the bench.

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He is a player PSG boss Unai Emery will know well from his time at Sevilla, but when the club is looking for a centre-forward, someone to challenge Edinson Cavani for a place in the starting XI, it is difficult to see what this potential move would bring.

Jese has shown great ability playing wide, driving at defenders and being able to cut onto his right foot before finding the back of the net. All five of his goals last season came from inside the box, per Squawka, with all but one coming from the left side of the penalty spot. He glides past opponents and is also quite bullish with the directness of his runs.

PSG already have Hatem Ben Arfa, Javier Pastore and Lucas Moura to play that role, and unless Emery was looking to move one of those players on—which is unlikely with Pastore handed the coveted No. 10 jersey—then there is no place in the team for Jese, regardless of his ability.

It is frequently mentioned he has the ability to play as a centre-forward, but it is something that hasn’t been seen on a regular basis with Real Madrid. PSG are looking for a centre-forward who has the ability to play wide, but Jese feels more like a winger who can play through the middle when there are no other options.

It would be more worthwhile for the French club to play Jean-Kevin Augustin in that position. The youngster’s excellent performance at this summer’s UEFA European Under-19 Championship proved he is capable of that. Jese hasn’t shown enough since he won the same tournament to suggest he is any further along than the 19-year-old striker.

For another team or at another time, Jese would be an excellent addition to the PSG squad. He will likely someday find a home and a manager who can bring the best out of him. But for the season ahead, that home shouldn’t be the Parc des Princes.