PSG Reportedly Keen to Offload Angel Di Maria, Javier Pastore Amid FFP Fears
June 14, 2018
Paris Saint-Germain will reportedly consider cashing in on a number of players this summer to ensure they fall in line with financial fair play regulations, including Angel Di Maria.
According to Calciomercato.com, while the French champions will not entertain any offers for star man Neymar, a number of first-team squad members will be sold because the club needs to raise around €60 million (£53 million).
Di Maria is said to be the highest-profile name on his way out despite his strong finish to the season at the Parc des Princes. He is reported to have admirers in Spain—Barcelona's interest from last summer is noted—and Italy.
Javier Pastore is said to be a target for West Ham United, Inter Milan and Napoli. Layvin Kurzawa, Thomas Meunier and Yuri Berchiche may also be sold in an attempt to trim down the squad.
As BBC Sport's Richard Conway noted, it appears as though PSG need to move quickly in order to avoid punishment from European football's governing body despite suggestions an investigation into their transfer dealings has been shut down:
Richard Conway @richard_conwayOk, now it gets very interesting. I understand PSG need to sell €60m worth of players by the end of this month to stay within UEFA’s FFP rules for 2017/18 and avoid potential sanction.
The Ligue 1 side do have one of the strongest squads in European football thanks to the major investment of recent years. Now it appears as if the club needs to do a bit of wheeling and dealing.
PSG flexed their financial muscle in the transfer window in the summer of 2017. Not only did they break the transfer record to sign Neymar from Barcelona, but they also snapped up Kylian Mbappe on loan with a view to him completing a permanent switch ahead of the 2018-19 season worth £166 million.

Those players' arrivals not only made the football world sit up and take notice but also made things harder for the likes of Di Maria and Pastore to get regular game time.
Late last term when Neymar was injured, Di Maria was often in the side and was key to the team's domestic treble.
As OptaJean highlighted, he's been one of the most creative footballers in Ligue 1 during his time in Paris:
OptaJose @OptaJose21 - Since Thomas Lemar arrived to Monaco, only Ángel di María (31) has provided more assists than the French player (21) in #Ligue1 the last three seasons. Atlético https://t.co/P0LAi2RSca
Pastore is another talent who has found his game time limited because of strong competition, injury niggles and inconsistency.
A move, more football and a fresh start could be to his benefit. As football writer Paul Brown noted, the midfielder is not the force he once was:
Paul Brown @pbsportswriterPastore to #whufc a name to excite maybe but 29 soon & in serious decline after years of injuries. Didn’t start a single Champions League game for #PSG last season, only managed a full 90mins 6 times in the league & is no longer in #ARG squad. Wages surely better spent elsewhere
PSG's issue will be finding a way to offload these players, some of whom are past their best and on massive wages, in the next few weeks. After all, the likes of Di Maria and Pastore won't be forced into making a move, especially if they are on huge salaries in Paris.
According to Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol, Pastore wants a staggering £190,000 per week to join West Ham United, a demand that may halt the deal. You sense PSG will run into similar roadblocks to this when trying to shift some fringe footballers.
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