PSG set to sign €41m Barcelona flop

Robin Bairner

• 28 Jan 2023 12:50 GMT
• 3 min read

Paris Saint-Germain are set to complete a transfer double swoop in the closing days of the January window – including a shock move for an attacker who flopped dramatically at Barcelona.

PSG had wanted to sign 19-year-old Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki but have been blocked in that chase by their Ligue 1 rivals, who do not wish to lose promising talent in the middle of the season. Although OL will likely see Malo Gusto sign for Chelsea, the teenaged right-back will be loaned back to them – something that would not be the case with Cherki.

With that in mind, Christophe Galtier’s side have had to take a rather different approach in the transfer market.

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Having sold Pablo Sarabia to Wolves as he was unhappy due to a lack of game time, the Parisians have been looking for a low-cost creative player and believe they have found a good option in the form of Zenit star Malcom.

The 25-year-old is infamously remembered for his one-season spell at Barcelona, who had signed him for €40 million from Ligue 1 club Bordeaux. He proved an incredible flop, playing in only 15 league matches and contributing just a single goal as he stayed firmly in the shadow of Lionel Messi & Co.

Remarkably, Barcelona were able to cover their backs financially on the player, selling him to Zenit a year later for €40m.

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Malcom has enjoyed a resurgent season in Russia, scoring 12 goals and creating seven more in the first half of the RPL season.

PSG are considering how best to approach a deal, according to L’Equipe, with it unlikely they can afford to buy him due to Financial Fair Play rule. A loan with a non-compulsory transfer option looks likeliest.

“No official offers have been received for Malcom but there is interest from PSG. We are waiting for a formal offer and if it arrives, we will consider it,” Zenit boss Sergei Semak has confirmed.

PSG in Skriniar bid

Meanwhile, the French club are angling to sign Milan Skriniar before the deadline amid reports of interest from a mystery Premier League club.

PSG are poised to make a bid in the region of €10-15m for Skriniar, who is out of contract in the summer and had been a transfer target for them in the summer of 2022.