With Paris Saint-Germain’s season in limbo due to the coronavirus crisis, now is a great time to look ahead to the 2020-21 season, the club’s 50th, and try and draft together what the next edition of Les Parisiens could potentially look like.
Goalkeepers
Keylor Navas will undoubtedly stay as the starter. He’s been one of PSG’s best players this season and the club will be hoping he can maintain his form going into next season.
His understudy this season, Sergio Rico, has been less inspiring. Supporters will remember his underwhelming performance against Girondins de Bordeaux this season. Rico is on loan at PSG and the club is unlikely to pay the €10 million option-to-buy fee to Sevilla FC.
One familiar face that could return to be the backup goalkeeper next season is Real Madrid loanee Alphonse Areola. The Frenchman has had an inconsistent run at the capital club, he is certainly a capable backup option. Polish goalkeeper Marcin Bulka hasn’t had the opportunity to show his class this season and will likely head out on loan next season with Real Betis rumored to be interested. Academy player Garissone Innocent could be given some minutes in a cup match here or there but he is more likely to play with the Under-19s.
Fullbacks
The fullback positions have been a cause for concern for PSG for many years now. Numerous players have come into the club with a lot of promise but very few have developed into regular starters who you would say are necessary to PSG’s success.
Thomas Meunier and Layvin Kurzawa are likely going to depart this summer as their contracts expire and it could be a chance for Leonardo, PSG’s sporting director, to dip into the transfer market and bring in some new faces.
Leonardo is almost definitely going to bring in a right-back to compete with Thilo Kehrer and Colin Dagba. Names such as Ricardo Pereira, Youcef Atal, and recently, Achraf Hakimi, have been linked with a move to PSG this summer, or whenever the transfer window opens.
Juan Bernat should be the starting left-back next season but competition is needed, so, expect a player like Alex Telles to be mentioned with a move to the French capital. Former Ajax youngster Mitchel Bakker could see more minutes next season if PSG passes on signing a new left-back.
Center-Backs
The current roster of center-backs features Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, Thilo Kehrer, Abdou Diallo, and Thiago Silva. Academy product, Loïc Mbe Soh could also be an option next season. Captain Silva is set to leave as his contract expires and that opens the possibility of a new signing to sure up the defense.
Although many PSG fans want to see a Marquinhos/Kimpembe partnership, Leonardo could be convinced by players such as Kalidou Koulibaly and Milan Škriniar who have recently become available. However, it could all depend on whether or not youngster Tanguy Kouassi signs a new deal at the club.
Midfielders
Marco Verratti is the first name on the team sheet when it comes to midfielders and no one else comes close. Idrissa Gueye has shown glimpses of his quality but has lacked consistency throughout the season. Leandro Paredes, Julian Draxler, and Ander Herrera have played decent when called upon and healthy but not enough to give you any kind of confidence heading into next season.
Marquinhos has also featured in the midfield and his future might depend on whether or not the center-back position can be sorted out. Adil Aouchiche and Kouassi, who can also play as a defensive midfielder, could see more minutes in the 2020-21 season but they have to sign professional contracts first.
Leonardo could be tempted to bring in a central midfielder in order to add height to the current group. Sergej Milinković-Savić has been linked to PSG recently and he would be an ideal solution but he won’t come cheap. Paul Pogba is another notable name that would be every PSG fan’s dream signing. As great as a midfield of Verratti and Pogba would be, there are far too many holes in the squad to splash the cash on a luxury player like Pogba.
Forwards
If they remain in Paris after the transfer window, Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé will both be starters next season. Mauro Icardi would also likely be a starter if PSG decides to make his loan permanent. Angel Di Maria will also be in the team in some way or another, as will Pablo Sarabia. Not to mention a certain Jesé will return from his loan spell at Sporting Lisbon.
If Icardi either goes back to Inter Milan or PSG sign him with the intention of selling him on to a team like Juventus FC, PSG will be in the market for a striker this summer assuming Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Edinson Cavani also leave. A few names that have been rumored are RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, and AS Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder.
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