Mbappe to extend, Neymar to go: What PSG need in January transfer window

Robin Bairner

• 5 Jan 2022 10:09 CST
• 4 min read

Strange as it may seem given their glittering array of talent, but Paris Saint-Germain have problems.

Always in the headlines when it comes to football transfer news, PSG’s policy on this front has caused issues disguised by their massive Ligue 1 lead and their place in the last 16 of the Champions League. Results have been strong, but performances have not.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side look unbalanced and without any structure or gameplan beyond simply giving the ball to one of their talented individuals to find a solution.

Worse, these issues look to run deeper than one January transfer window will allow them to solve.

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Given the deflation in the transfer market, moving on the excess number of players they possess will be impossible while forging a genuine identity is a process that will take months – not least because they have none in the first place.

It is difficult to see what goal PSG are working towards in each transfer window beyond simply accumulating star quality.

Nevertheless, that is not on the cards for January. Pochettino has already indicated that there will be no additional incomings to the squad unless there is a very significant shift in policy.

In any case, it is difficult to see any area of the side that lacks quality.

Instead, what PSG’s squad needs is to become more streamlined and focused on becoming the best it can be.

Forwards

This means tying down Kylian Mbappe as their absolute priority. Although Real Madrid are in pole position for the World Cup winner, PSG continue to hold a genuine but slim chance of getting him to add to his contract, which has only six months to run.

In an ideal world, meanwhile, they could do with offloading Neymar. The Brazil star has looked off colour throughout this season, is eating up a huge wage and there are very real questions over his longevity at the very elite level in the game.

Mauro Icardi is likelier to leave. This is not an era of football that suits poachers and his lack of overall contribution to PSG’s play is not being outweighed by the goals he has scored – not even close. Links to Manchester United seem bizarre, but Juventus seems to be a possibility.

Midfielders

In a bloated midfield sector, any number of players could leave. Leandro Paredes has not provided the consistent craft required of an often-used Marco Verratti stand in.

Indeed, PSG have any number of players who are little more than makeweights. Gini Wijnaldum’s performances have barely reached mediocre on a regular basis, while Ander Herrera, Danilo and Julian Draxler have performed at best inconsistently.

Patience could be justified for Wijnaldum given he is a new addition, but offloading any two of the remaining three would streamline the squad.

A decision should be taken on Xavi Simons, too. Either the club decides they want to retain the promising 18-year-old or they should cut him loose for a fee while they still can.

Defenders

PSG have the same issues in defence as they do in midfield, albeit a little more strength in depth, particularly in the heart of their defence.

France international Layvin Kurzawa is on his way out, having dropped to fourth choice in that role, while Abdou Diallo could also be offloaded without too much fuss. Similarly, Thilo Kehrer could also go and do so largely unnoticed.

Players such as Colin Dagba and 16-year-old prodigy El Chadaille Bitshiabu could do with time away from the club on loan.

Goalkeepers

PSG have the farcical situation of rotating their goalkeeper on a weekly basis, which cannot please either Keylor Navas or Gianluigi Donnarumma. This situation has come about due to a lack of planning, yet it must be the Italian who is retained.

Sergio Rico was reportedly denied a loan move to Saint-Etienne, but the Spaniard deserves a bigger stage than working as PSG’s third-choice keeper and should move on for his own good.