Paris Saint-Germain qualified on the very last matchday for the UEFA Champions League round of 16. As a result, it gives the squad all of January to address the defensive weaknesses, looking at a player like Raphaël Varane.
The Manchester United defender could become a free agent next June. So, he might sign a pre-contract with any club once the January window opens. However, would he want to wait six months, as there are tensions with manager Erik Ten Hag?
Could Varane want a sale, and with PSG’s issues on defense, would the 30-year-old make sense to pursue him? Marquinhos has shown in the past that he can implode in the knockout stage, and Milan Skriniar remains a question mark.
Jonathan Johnson shares his thoughts on PSG pursuing Raphaël Varane
In a recent appearance on the PSG Talking podcast, CBS Sports reporter Jonathan Johnson shared the pros and cons of the French giants possibly pursuing the former Real Madrid defender.
“I like aspects of it,” Johnson said. “I don’t like other aspects of it. We know that Varane has already had to retire at the international level because of some of the physical issues that he’s had. He’s not getting any younger, either. But equally, he is vastly experienced, and he is a top-quality defender when he is fit.
“Obviously, financially, there’d be that consideration as well. Bayern Munich have been linked with him. Clearly, his stock hasn’t fallen that much with Manchester United going out of Europe. Potentially, there is a deal there that can be struck.”
If PSG were to pursue Varane, he’d become into a squad that knows him well. Most of the French players on the squad have played with the Manchester United center-back for Les Bleus. Meanwhile, Luis Enrique coached against the Frenchman while the two were in La Liga, so he’s probably familiar with his qualities.
A move back to France may rejuvenate the veteran’s career after this two-year stint with the Red Devils.
