There has been a lot of discussion recently about how most clubs will fight to make big money in this summer’s transfer market – Paris Saint-Germain is not “most clubs”.
Ligue 1 outfits are seemingly unharmed by the impact that coronavirus has had on their economy and are pushing forward with their transmission business as if they were funded by an entire state – very strange, we know.
Speculation about Mauricio Pochettino’s possible departure seems to have disappeared recently, but no matter who is in the hot seats, PSG will be forced to count on next season, and 90 minutes have looked at how they could line up for the 2021/22 campaign …
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma
PSG seem to be on the verge of securing the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma / Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images
First on the list of new arrivals in Paris is Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Italy’s hero in Euro 2020 would go into pretty much every team in the world, and although PSG have made many fantastic free signings this summer, he is definitely the choice of the gang.
With Keylor Navas recently signing a new deal, it seems unlikely that the Costa Rica international will move on, and if he stays in the French capital, PSG will have two quality goalkeepers on their books.
Although Navas seems to be going somewhere, Donnarumma is still expected to be number one and he is a quality addition.
RB: Achraf Hakimi
Achraf Hakimi is another potential arrival this summer / Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images
We told you they were not moving in the market this summer.
One of the reported reasons why Antonio Conte left Inter so soon after their victory in Scudetto was the club’s insistence on selling some of their biggest stars to generate money, and Achraf Hakimi’s departure from the San Siro suggests that the reports were probably true.
PSG faced stiff competition from Chelsea for Morocco’s signature, but eventually they were able to knock out a £ 60m deal and even for such an eye-catching fee, he is a brilliant buy.
CB: Marquinhos
? The captain returns! ? @ marquinhos_m5 #PSGMCI | #UCL pic.twitter.com/zPH2yw4bWG
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 28, 2021
While PSG have been linked to a number of defensive reinforcements, their first-choice central defensive options are very much decided.
Club captain Marquinhos suffered a number of injury problems last season, but when he is in shape he is an automatic start and even if they seem to strengthen their options, he will remain one of the first names on the team magazine.
CB: Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos is another new signing that the club has made this summer / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Next up on the list of quality free signatures is Serio Ramos.
Admittedly, the Spaniard’s fitness could be a problem after spending most of his last months at Real from the sidelines, but if PSG can keep him in shape, he is still a first-class defender.
Les Parisiens lost a lot of experience when Thiago Silva left the club last summer, so what better way to replace him than with a four-time winner in the Champions League?
LB: Theo Hernandez
Theo Hernandez is another Milan player who is of course about to join PSG / Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images
One of the problem areas in PSG’s group was at the back and they are well on their way to tackling them.
Theo Hernandez is another big name who is potentially on his way out of Milan this summer and PSG are in pole position to catch him.
It remains to be seen if Pochettino’s side will be able to reach an agreement with I Rossoneri after seeing their first bid rejected, but you can guarantee PSG will try again given their need to strengthen and the quality Hernandez would provide.
CM: Georginio Wijnaldum
PSG seem to have come forward in the race to sign Georginio Wijnaldum / Gareth Copley / Getty Images
Seriously, will any of the 2020/21 troops get a look?
PSG probably did not even want to write Georginio Wijnaldum – they did it just to prove they can.
With the Dutchman not signing a new deal in Liverpool, he has now been officially introduced as a PSG player, and we can all probably agree that it’s just fun to see Super League stars Barcelona robbed by a player they looked nailed to sign at the last minute.
CM: Marco Verratti
Capturing Marco Verratti will be crucial to PSG’s future success / Alex Grimm / Getty Images
We want to celebrate the fact that we have finally got another member of the squad 2020/21 in next season’s start XI, but even this one is not nailed on.
It is rumored that Chelsea are exploring the possibility of moving for Marco Verratti but in truth it seems very unlikely that Les Parisiens would let a player with his ability leave.
Expect Verratti to stay at the club when they want to win back their French crown.
CM: Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba may be on his way to PSG / Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images
If PSG can sign Paul Pogba, Lille can just as easily hand over their Ligue 1 title now.
With the Manchester United midfielder reportedly rejecting the club’s offer of a £ 350,000-a-week contract, the Red Devils are ready to cut ties with the Frenchman to avoid risking losing him for free next summer.
The news has warned PSG’s attention and they are ready to offer £ 45m for Pogba – £ 5m lower than United’s valuation, but that may be enough – and if they succeed in their quest for Pogba he would add even more quality to a already star-studded group.
Admittedly, the lack of an out-and-out defensive midfielder can be a problem against top teams, but who doesn’t love a little “we will do more than you” football?
RW: Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria has extended his deal at PSG / John Berry / Getty Images
It would not be a surprise to see Pochettino dive into the transfer market and look for a new right wing this summer.
At 33, Angel Di Maria is definitely in the twilight of his career, but his stats from last season prove he can still cut it at the top level and after signing a one-year extension at PSG, it seems they can prioritize other positions before they are looking for his replacement.
ST: Kylian Mbappe
???? ☑️ ???? ☑️ ???? ☑️
? With 2️⃣7️⃣ goals, does @KMbappe win the trophy for # Ligue1 top scorer for a 3️⃣rd year in a row? pic.twitter.com/SIXqymmlOD
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) 24 May 2021
it seems that Kylian Mbappe is destined to stay at PSG this summer with Real Madrid in financial ruin and then not be able to offer the kind of money needed to tempt the French side to give up on him.
Whether wonderkid will become a PSG player this time next year remains to be seen – with reports suggesting he intends to lose his contract before finally moving to Real – but at the moment he is one of Pochettino’s top men.
LW: Neymar
Neymar has signed a new contract at PSG / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Another man who will undoubtedly be central in his efforts to win back the Lique 1 trophy.
Questions have been raised about Neymar’s future in Paris, but after putting paper on paper about a new agreement, rumors said it had disappeared.
He will no doubt be waiting to move back to Barcelona again in the near future, but he is currently staying at PSG.
