There’s been a very notable departure from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but the absence of Kylian Mbappé for the 2024-25 season isn’t what worries supporters the most.
PSG will once again be favored to win Ligue 1 this season and retain the Coupe de France. However, when it comes to the UEFA Champions League, they have some work to do to be among the favorites on Vulkan Bet to win the title.
The most glaring hole in the PSG squad is the defensive back line. From injuries to inexperience to a lack of depth, it will be crucial for Luis Campos to strengthen the defense heading into next season.
Left-Back
The unquestioned starter at left-back is Nuno Mendes. The Portugal international is coming off an impressive showing at the UEFA European Champions, but he missed the entire previous season due to a hamstring injury. Mendes returned midway through the 2023-24 season and hardly showed any lingering issues. The question, though, is depth at left-back.
Lucas Hernández is capable of filling in at left-back, but he suffered an ACL injury toward the end of the season and will miss at least half of the upcoming season. Lucas Beraldo was brought in last January and is another player who can fill in at left-back, but the 20-year-old is still getting acclimated to his new surroundings.
Center-Back
We’ve already covered the injury to Hernández and Beraldo’s inexperience. That leaves the veteran and PSG captain, Marquinhos, as the best center-back available, but even he can be inconsistent at times. Milan Škriniar was brought in last summer. The 29-year-old brought a physicality that PSG needed defensively, but his lack of pace was exposed in the Champions League, especially against Newcastle United, who defeated PSG 4-1 at St. James’ Park.
Other options at center-back include Presnel Kimpembe and Danilo Pereira. The Frenchman has been out a significant amount of time after an Achilles injury, and there’s serious doubt if he can return and be half the player he was before. Danilo is a serviceable center-back, but no club is winning the Champions League with him playing major minutes.
Right-Back
Like Mendes at left-back, Achraf Hakimi is the unquestioned starter on the right side of the defense. With rumors that Nordi Mukiele could leave this summer, and the inexperience of Yoram Zague, who may go out on loan, a quality right-back is almost a necessity this summer. If Hakimi should miss any amount of time, it would open up a significant weakness in PSG’s squad that could cost them in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
