Paris Saint-Germain’s summer was particularly lively on the transfer market, with Parisian management working hard to reshape its squad without ever losing sight of its guidelines. The capital club particularly hit hard with the arrivals of Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco for €50 million, Mika Godts from Ajax for €45 million and Ferran Torres from FC Barcelona for €45 million, but also Lucas Digne. To these recruits were added several loan returns, with Gabriel Moscardo, Renato Sanches and Yoram Zague, as well as the free arrival of Alessandro Longoni. In the other direction, Paris also carried out a major downsizing operation, notably with the departures of Randal Kolo Muani and, above all, Bradley Barcola to Liverpool for an operation that could reach €145 million including bonuses. Ibrahim Mbaye is also due to join Aston Villa for around €55m, while PSG has continued its policy of promoting its players and controlling its payroll.
On the pitch, however, this new version of PSG has not yet completely found its cruising speed. The start of the season appears more sluggish than what the ambitions of the French champion could have led us to hope, with a team still getting into shape and several new faces who must take their bearings from the principles of Luis Enrique. The movements recorded this summer have profoundly modified certain offensive hierarchies, particularly after the departures of Barcola and Mbaye, and the Parisian management remains attentive to opportunities likely to bring real added value. Paris had also studied the possibility of strengthening its defense with a versatile central player, while the goalkeeper file had been activated with Zion Suzuki before the track fell through. However, the club still refuses to recruit for the sake of recruiting. The avenues explored in recent weeks, such as those leading to Éli Junior Kroupi, Adil Hamdani or Laciné Megnan, demonstrate more of a desire to anticipate the future than of an obligation to complete an additional operation at all costs.
24 hours who can move?
But this philosophy could be put to the test in the very last hours of the transfer window. While Paris Saint-Germain seemed to be heading towards a relatively calm end to the market, Tuesday could ultimately reserve some additional movements, including certain formalizations of contract extensions. The priority remains offensive, in particular because recent departures have further reduced the solutions available in the sector and the Parisian staff wishes to maintain sufficient depth to tackle a particularly busy season. PSG continues to monitor several situations and could position itself if an opportunity truly corresponding to the criteria set by management were to present itself. Nothing indicates at the moment that a recruit is certain, but the context can quickly evolve during a last day of the transfer window where the clubs accelerate, the players become available and certain negotiations blocked for several days can suddenly become unblocked. Paris still has time to observe the market and could be more active than expected if conditions become favorable.
This final stretch also concerns the direction of departures, with Renato Sanches still waiting for a solution. The Portuguese no longer trains with Luis Enrique’s professional group and works with the Espoirs, while PSG is willing to facilitate his departure while he has one year of contract remaining. The Middle Eastern or Turkish markets, which close later than several European championships, still offer possibilities for resolving this issue. A possible exit could also free up space in the squad and modify the Parisian possibilities in the final hours. Added to this is the prospect of seeing certain offensive files take an unexpected turn. PSG does not plan to turn this last day into a frantic race, but the succession of departures and the needs that have emerged at the start of the season could push Luis Campos and Nasser al-Khelaïfi to remain alert until the end. The Parisian market could therefore experience one last boost before closing its doors once and for all.
