In this series, we will analyse teams, identify problem areas, and suggest solutions in the form
of incoming players. We won’t follow gossip, rumours or conjecture. We’re concerned only
with a player’s on-field performance and their suitability for the role in question.
Today’s team is Paris Saint-Germain. Welcome to Sensible Transfers.
It’s all change at Paris Saint-Germain. Mauricio Pochettino has left the club and been replaced by
Nice head-coach Christophe Gaultier, who took Lille to the Ligue1 title in 2021.
Sporting director Leonardo has also gone, and he’s been replaced by Luis Campos,
who has taken on the role of football advisor.
Campos was one of the architects of that Lille side,
but he’s perhaps best known as the recruiting mind behind the great Monaco team of 2017,
which won the French league but also used that season’s Champions League to introduce
the world to a cast of thrilling players. (Show Mbappe, Fabinho, Lemar, Bakayoko)
In addition to this, club president Nasser Al-Khalaifi has announced a change of direction.
“We don’t want flashy bling-bling anymore” he told Le Parisien back in June.
“It’s the end of the glitter”.
He also implied that a variety of players are likely to leave the club,
in addition to Angel Di Maria and Alphonse Areola who have already left.
So, this edition of Sensible Transfers is different:
we’re looking to showcase PSG’s image change and add to it where we can.
Historically, Christophe Galtier has preferred a 4-4-2, but has also suggested a willingness to
play with three at the back. He confirmed as much in an interview shortly after taking the job, in
which he referenced the power his side possesses at the top of the pitch, but stressed the need for
greater strength at the base of the defence. Yes, he said, three centre-backs are a possibility.
In either scenario, that mandates a midfield four
and sees a lot of players competing for the two central positions.
Idrissa Gueye and Danilo might leave, so too could Rafinha, but that still leaves Leandro Paredes,
Ander Herrera, Georginio Wijnaldum and Marco Verratti capable of playing in centre-midfield.
And now Vitinha as well, who was the first major arrival of the summer,
signing for €41.5m from Porto, and will also contend for one of those positions.
Vitinha is one of the premium young No.8s in world football.
Stylistically, he compares with someone like Marco Verratti,
albeit with a far greater willingness to shoot. He’s elegant and skillful, a progressive passer
and carrier who seems to very much fit the mould of what this new PSG would like to become.
The club may want a younger, hungrier type of player, but a side of their status – and
a fanbase who have got used to stars – are unlikely to be satiated by unknown players
who generate little excitement. Vitinha is in the sweet spot, then: exciting, highly
coveted by other clubs, but still developing in a way that makes him a thrilling prospect.
That’s our guide as we move on.
Whatever formation Gaultier chooses, he’ll have to accommodate Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
And, while there have been suggestions that he might leave,
Neymar remains at the club too and he’ll also be a starter.
Di Maria has departed and that’s not insignificant; he played over 2000 minutes
in all competitions last season and provided a key source of depth behind those first choice three.
So that’s what we’re replacing – and, as in midfield,
it’s a good opportunity to pursue a different profile of player.
So, we’re looking for someone who can cover multiple positions and Crystal
Palace’s Michael Olise would be an interesting option. He’s still growing and developing,
but enjoyed a good start in his first Premier League season and – given the age profile that
Luis Campos has targeted in the profile – would very much fit his recruiting approach.
He’s very progressive as a carrier,
and a passer too, and would also replace the left foot that PSG are losing in Di Maria.
He would be convenient profile wise, as a young player who could enjoy plenty of
minutes behind that first-choice three, without making the situation politically difficult.
One concern is that he hasn’t yet shown that he can cover the range of attacking positions
we need. The majority of his minutes for Palace last season came from the right,
or in central attacking midfield positions, whereas we need someone with a proven record
down the left too. In addition to which, it would probably be better
to find someone capable of compensating for the lack of defensive contribution
given elsewhere in the front-three and that isn’t one of Olise’s strengths.
So, we’re moving on, to Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi.
His situation at Stamford Bridge is unclear.
With injury difficulties last season and players in similar positions due to leave this summer,
it’s not certain where in the pecking order he’ll find himself next season. Nevertheless, PSG would
no doubt be an attractive option and a good place to resume a career which has lost its momentum.
Unlike Olisse, Hudson-Odoi does have proven worth on both sides of the pitch.
He’s a highly creative player – as much of a playmaker as he is a dynamic ball-carrier – and
he has tremendous pace, significant Champions League experience and, conveniently,
would suit the change in recruiting focus while still being an attractive name to the club’s fans.
His defensive contribution isn’t outstanding, but he would still offer an improvement to PSG
and has also played as a wing-back in the past.
For him, there would be a well-defined role too:
Di Maria is gone, Julian Draxler is seemingly obsolete and Mauro Icardi’s future is unclear.
Arnaud Kalimuendo may yet also leave the club and, despite a good season on loan with Sporting,
it’s not certain where the now 30-year-old Pablo Sarabia will be spending 2022-23.
The pitch to Hudson-Odoi would be for him to become the first alternative
in all the attacking positions and, over the course of a Ligue1 and Champions League season,
that would potentially be a huge amount of game-time on a very big stage.
Far greater than he’s currently benefitting from at Chelsea, certainly.