PSG's Thomas Tuchel Confirms Juan Bernat, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting Medicals
August 31, 2018
Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed the club are trying to push through deals to sign Stoke City's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Bayern Munich's Juan Bernat.
Per French football writer Jonathan Johnson, Tuchel said both players are undergoing medicals with the French champions as they look to complete the signings before Friday's transfer deadline:
Jonathan Johnson @Jon_LeGossipTuchel on Bernat & Choupo-Moting: "It is August 31. It is very late, perhaps too late. I am not going to lie, we are trying to get both players to sign -- they are undergoing their medicals now. I do not know if others will follow." #NOPSG
PSG have been quiet so far in the summer transfer window. The most significant activity at the Parc des Princes was the arrival of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for free back in July.
It is in stark contrast to last summer when Neymar and Kylian Mbappe were both signed by the Parisian outfit.
Clearly Tuchel is eager to make a few more additions to his squad before the transfer window closes, but they are hardly blockbuster names.
Bernat, 25, is a talented and versatile left-back PSG have picked out as an alternative to Atletico Madrid's Filipe Luis and will cost around €15 million (£13.5 million), per Johnson on ESPN FC.
Choupo-Moting, 29, is a much more surprising target.
Tuchel explained the Cameroon international is set to be brought in as back-up to Edinson Cavani, per Johnson:
Jonathan Johnson @Jon_LeGossipTuchel on Choupo-Moting: "We have been looking for a backup to Edinson Cavani for a while. Eric Maxim gave us an opportunity. He is a player of top quality & can impact games from the bench. We wanted a strong player, able to hold the ball up & dominate aerially." #NOPSG
But the Stoke player is not a traditional No. 9, preferring to play on the left flank.
He is also far from prolific, managing only five goals in 30 appearances last term as the Potters were relegated from the Premier League.
Choupo-Moting previously played under Tuchel at Mainz, where he returned 10 Bundesliga goals in both 2011-12 and 2013-14, so it should not take him long to settle in under the German.
It is a huge step up for him, though, and Tuchel is likely to be questioned for taking him to the Parc des Princes when PSG already have a number of talented young forwards on their books.
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