It has been a very nonchalant summer for Paris Saint Germain in the transfer market thus far, with more players being linked with moves away from the club then high profile signings arriving to the Parc De Princes. The only major reinforcement of note is highly rated German goal keeper Kevin Trapp, who has joined from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankurt for a reported fee of €10 million.
In a major boost for the reigning three time Ligue 1 champions, their Financial Fair Play restrictions have been lifted after they were sanctioned by UEFA for breaching the rules in 2014. They subsequently had their allocated transfer budget limited to €60 million, and could only register 21 players out of a maximum of 25 for next season’s UEFA Champions League competition.
PSG are the major beneficiaries of UEFA’s decision to relax financial restraints, as the governing body feel’s curbing spending would deter potential investors wanting to have a monetary interest in a football club, and inhibiting their chances of being competitive by not being able to flex their significant financial muscle.
This could give the Parisians the green light to make heavy inroads in the transfer window, and one player who could kick start the club’s summer splurge is the signing of the unsettled midfielder Angel Di Maria, who had a disappointing season after making a British record £59.7 million move to Manchester United just last summer.
Di Maria struggled for fitness and form after making a lively start to his United bow scoring three in his first four outings. He found the net just once for the remainder of the season as he fell out of favour with Louis van Gaal, and to compound the situation, Di Maria and his family were on the receiving end of an attempted break-in at their Cheshire home, leaving he and his wife shaken up by the incident.
PSG boss Laurent Blanc has expressed his admiration for the player in a recent interview with newspaper outlet L’Equipe, but admits the French giants are not the only club keen on securing the services of the 27-year-old.
“Yes, I like him very much. We have our priorities.
“Di Maria, he’s good. We have more freedom, but it remains a difficult project for us because we’re not alone in wanting him.”
United would be eager to recoup a large portion of that astronomical feel they forked out for Di Maria if they are to part ways with the player, with van Gaal reluctant to confirm whether the Argentine will remain at the club, saying the situation “isn’t clear”, and that he will have a better idea of the players future when he reports back to the club on July 25th.
It has also been reported that the Red Devils could use Di Maria has leverage in a possible swap deal with current PSG striker Edison Cavani, as United are in the market for a new hitman after the recent sale of Robin van Persie and the decision to not buy on loan striker Radamal Falcao.
The Ligue 1 outfit are hell bent on not only continuing their local dominance, but to also take the next step in the Champions League after exiting in the quarter-finals last season. The acquisition of Di Maria would be a great coup for PSG, who regardless of his poor season, is still a world class player who is equally as damaging on the flanks or in central-midfield.
Aside from the Di Maria interest, it has been an extremely quiet window so far for Les Rouge-et-Bleu, with no real notable additions in the pipeline. On the other side of the coin it looks like it is au revoir to a couple of the team’s mainstays.
The future of long time number one shot stopper Salvatore Sirigu appears to be in serious doubt after the signing of Kevin Trapp would most likely relegate Sirigu to number two in the pecking order. It is somewhat harsh on the Italian, who has been the undisputed custodian for PSG since signing for the club in 2011, integral to their most sustained, trophy-laden era.
It is reported that Laurent Blanc still remains unconvinced of the 28-year-old’s ability, and PSG director Olivier Letang announced that his free to leave the club if he requests to be moved on, putting potential suitors like Roma and Valencia on high alert.
“If Sirigu asks to be sold, we won’t stand in his way. In any case we’d have to thank Salvatore for all he has done in Paris.” confirmed Letang at Trapp’s official presentation.
Another who’s future looks on the brink is midfielder Thiago Motta, who has publicly stated his want for a new challenge after three-and-a-half years years in Paris. Motta, who has only one year remaining on his contract, has his heart set on a move back to former club Internazionale, and claims his next move is entirely down to motivation rather then financial reasons.
“I get the impression that a cycle is coming to an end for me,” Motta said to Gazzetta dello Sport. “I have given and received so much. It would be more comfortable to stay, but I wouldn’t be honest with myself, nor the club, which I have grown to love. It’s not a question of money, but of motivation.”
There has been one confirmed departure, with Yohan Cabaye making the short venture from Paris to London to sign for Premier League club Crystal Palace for a fee of £10 million. Cabaye had only joined PSG just 18 months earlier, but decided to return to England to re-unite with manager Alan Pardew who he worked under at Newcastle.
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The lack of signings will not worry PSG in their endeavours to achieve a fourth successive Ligue 1 crown, as their title rivals Monaco and Marseille have been weakened with the loss of several key players, more domestic glory seems a foregone conclusion.
It is the Champions League that has become an obsession for PSG and their owners the Qatari Spots Investments group, who have outlined a long term objective for the club to win the biggest prize in European club football by 2018.
PSG’s squad is one of the strongest in Europe, but to conquer opposition such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern they cannot afford to stand still and will need to continue to strengthen in order to achieve the ultimate success. The signing of Di Maria would be a real statement of intent, and with the window still accessible for another seven weeks, it could signal a real flurry of activity in the capital.
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