In these uncertain times, I suppose it’s reasonable to try and negotiate a lower price for things you need or want, such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and prolific strikers named Mauro Icardi.
For Paris Saint-Germain, time is ticking and they need to make a decision regarding Icardi with his season-long loan from Inter Milan set to expire in the coming weeks.
Leonardo, PSG’s sporting director, can either let his loan expire and send the player packing back to Serie A, or, he can pay the €70 million purchase option and extend Icardi’s stay in the French capital.
Making the decision more difficult is the fact Edinson Cavani’s contract expires on June 30, and the club’s all-time leading scorer is unlikely to receive an extension. The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t helped either with PSG expecting colossal losses. Essentially, PSG needs a world-class striker but they don’t necessarily have the funds to pay exorbitant transfer fees.
That reality is what’s behind the report from La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Le10Sport), which reveals PSG would like a €20 million discount on Icardi making the purchase option €50 million.
Inter Milan reportedly are reluctant to accept that fee but they’re in a difficult situation as well. If they refuse to lower their asking price for Icardi, they’ll have to take the player back and if no other deal is presented to move him on, his wages would remain on Inter’s books and cause serious financial issues.
It’s possible that Julian Draxler could be sent to Inter to help lower the cost of Icardi but that report has yet to materialize.
The good news for supporters is that we should have an answer soon. Given the situation of both clubs, I think Inter will eventually cave and give PSG a discount on Icardi and he’ll be around for next season.
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