How PSG could line up with Ramos, Hakimi, Wijnaldum & Donnarumma

Robin Bairner

Updated: 14 Jul 2021 19:21 BST
3 min read

Sergio Ramos celebrates scoring for Real Madrid against Atalanta in the Champions League — © ProShots

Paris Saint-Germain are set for a summer transfer overhaul, with Sergio Ramos the latest big-name signing in a week in which they also captured Achraf Hakimi from Inter.

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While PSG have spent €60 million on Inter full-back Hakimi, they have also been working on the free agency market. Gini Wijnaldum was pinched from under the noses of Barcelona, while Sergio Ramos has now been signed from Real Madrid.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is the most recently announced signing as he was confirmed as a PSG player on Wednesday. Milan.

All this is in a battle to persuade Kylian Mbappe that the club remains a viable Champions League contender for the immediate future, with Real Madrid trying to lure the France international forward away either this summer or next.

With this in mind, PSG’s starting XI is set to look very different in the year ahead, albeit the competition for players is strong and none of the new acquisitions will be immediately guaranteed a spot.

So just how could PSG look next season?

How PSG could look in 2020-21

In goal, there is set to be an intense battle between Keylor Navas, who was one of PSG’s best players last season, and Donnarumma. The young Italian may be shining at Euro 2020 and will be PSG’s goalkeeper in the long term, yet in the early weeks of the campaign Navas is likely to retain his spot.

Indeed, so fierce is the competition in this sector, it has been suggested that Donnarumma may be loaned out for a year. This remains perhaps the most logical option.

Hakimi, meanwhile, will start on the right of the defence, either as a right-back or a right wing-back, depending on whether Mauricio Pochettino plays two or three centre-backs.

PSG in a 3-4-3

Sergio Ramos will benefit from a full summer off and will start the season in the heart of the defence. Both Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos have had plenty of international football in recent weeks at Euro 2020 and the Copa America respectively and will face a fitness deficit in August after their holidays. All three could feature at times.

Wijnaldum, meanwhile, will offer dynamism in the heart of the midfield, where he will likely feature alongside Marco Verratti.

PSG in a 4-2-3-1

With the future of Mauro Icardi uncertain, PSG could use Mbappe as a centre forward this season, flanked by Neymar and Angel Di Maria.

On occasions where Pochettino favours a 4-2-3-1, Neymar could be employed as the No.10 with Mbappe and Di Maria wide and Icardi as the No.9.