PSG, a revolution after the flop: Ronaldo, Neymar, Icardi & Pogba
The news coming out of the French champions is that; “Blanc remains; now we must improve the team”. With many players wanting to leave Ligue 1 for a more competitive championship, president Al Khelaifi declared that; “We need to reflect on what to do to get further in the Champions League. Everyone has given their all but we are disappointed. We should have qualified; we have a better team than Manchester City and we have confidence in the coach. Now we must think how to reinforce the squad”.
GALLERY: The story in photos as Manchester City edge out Paris - https://t.co/ZpgbxbtRB6 #UCL pic.twitter.com/6frcQQNZbj
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 12, 2016
CR7 REMAINS THE MAIN TARGET
A better team perhaps yes; but a team with players who aren’t accustomed to winning on the big European stage. As Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic prepare to depart, the clubs number one target remains Cristiano Ronaldo. Khelaifa has already met the player’s agent Jorge Mendes and is prepared to smash the transfer record by paying Los Blancos over €100 million to get him. Another frontman who is on the radar of the club from the French capital is Inter’s Mauro Icardi. Contact is believed to have been made with president Thohir who is reluctant to sell. A bid of around €50 million may convince the nerazzurri to part company with the Argentine, but not a guarantee.
NEYMAR & AUBAMEYANG ARE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES
PSG has reportedly already started a dialogue with representatives of Brazilian superstar Neymar and has also made contact with Borussia Dortmund about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Reinforcing the attack is not enough however, Wednesday’s defeat shows that they need a stronger strength in depth, players with European experience who can come on to the field and turn games to their advantage. Defensively they also look weak, with no real alternatives to David Luiz or Thiago Silva, the club is threadbare at the back. Players such as Mats Hummels or Mehdi Benatia who may be available this summer, are exactly the sort that Blanc will require.
POGBA STILL A WANTED MAN
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been heavily linked with the club but the word at the moment is that he prefers a return to the Premier League if he decides to leave Turin this summer. Yaya Toure, who will depart from their quarter-final conquerors next month, is also a possibility. There will be many new purchases as another revolution takes place at the Parc des Princes; the Champions League continues to be an obsession in the French capital.
By Emanuele Tramacere translation by Steve Mitchell @barafundler
