It's transfer window, it's Leo.
On June 9, the transfer market will open in France with, as always, a central figure in Paris: Leonardo, the sports director.
He will be on the front line and on the move to restructure the workforce in both directions (departures and arrivals).
In phase with Mauricio Pochettino.
For the second time in a row, PSG has shown that it is no longer very far from the final victory in the Champions League, after a failure in the final in 2020 and then in the semi-final in 2021. Two reinforcements of weight would change undoubtedly the face of this team. Last season, the transfer window took place in confusion, between a coach (Thomas Tuchel) and his superior in disagreement, in particular on the recruitment of a central defender. Then some executives asked Leo to speed up when no element had appeared at the Lodges camp except Alessandro Florenzi, on loan from AS Rome. The leader had listened to them with the arrival on the gong of Danilo Pereira, Moise Kean and Rafinha.
This time, the Brazilian and the new coach, Mauricio Pochettino, share, exchange and seem in total harmony. The desire to smooth out the differences and tensions between the major sectors and places of power - medical, technical staff, sports management - should make this transfer window more fluid and more coherent. The goal is to satisfy the Argentinian coach as much as possible, attached to certain profiles: solid defensively full backs; technical circles; fast attackers.
Sell, finally.
The hiring manager does not hide it.
“I recognize that I am less good on sales, he admitted in France Football in January.
But, in my defense, no one is buying.
Or much less than before.
However, with accounts seriously impacted by the pandemic and the still official presence of financial fair play, the capital club does not have unlimited credits.
We will have to resolve to give up players in the complicated context described by Leo.
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Loans like Alessandro Florenzi and Moise Kean seem to be on two different trajectories, between one that Paris does not want to keep and the other who says they want to stay - everything will depend on the negotiation with Everton who still owns the Italian striker. But the PSG must above all separate from auxiliary players who have disappointed in the eyes of the staff. A non-exhaustive list which primarily concerns Thilo Kehrer, Rafinha or Pablo Sarabia. It could include Layvin Kurzawa and Mauro Icardi, often holders but poorly performing, in the Champions League in particular.
Any market opportunity will be considered for elements of uncertain status such as Ander Herrera, Danilo Pereira or Gana Gueye or even Leandro Paredes, even if the Argentinian has the locker room with him. Among these few unwanted people, some could revive in their country of origin such as Kehrer in Germany, Sarabia in Spain or adoption for Icardi in Italy.
70 million euros to spend?
Sales would swell the envelope to strengthen, around 70 million euros like last season to buy Icardi, Rico and the paying loans of Danilo and Florenzi. At least one midfielder and one right side are targeted. But there are good deals like the Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool), announced at Barça. Leonardo worked on this file, as he explores the one leading to Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes). Agent Mino Raiola will offer him, like every season, Paul Pogba, at the end of his contract in a year at Manchester United.
If ever Kylian Mbappé were to leave, the PSG transfer window would be totally upset. It would then be a question of finding a major replacement, by reinvesting part of the sum obtained on Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) or another offensive star, Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo having each been surveyed by PSG.