Marcus Rashford, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Barcelona wonderkid Gavi are on the shortlist to replace Kylian Mbappe’s at Paris Saint-Germain.
As i reported last month, Rashford is again on PSG’s radar after facing a disciplinary meeting at Manchester United following his decision to call in sick for training only a few hours after returning home from a Belfast nightclub.
The French champions have long been admirers of the England forward, having been interested in bringing him to Paris last summer before Rashford penned a lucrative new deal, worth a reported £300,000-a-week, at United.
After Mbappe confirmed last week that he will be leaving PSG at the end of the season, seemingly set to join Real Madrid, his employers have plenty of extra funds available.
With the France superstar’s astronomical wages off the books, i understands they now have a war chest in the region of £200m to spend.
Club sources have been keen to point out that Mbappe’s departure will mean a move away from the previous galactico era, where the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Sergio Ramos and Mbappe could effectively do what they liked – with young, hungry players to be targeted in the transfer market instead.
However, they have expressed the need to replace Mbappe with some “world-class” talent.
Incoming new investors Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos are set to ring the changes on and off the pitch and Rashford could be used to generate funds for an overhaul of United’s squad – a move that would look favourable on the balance sheet for Financial Fair Play purposes, given academy graduate sales are classed as 100 per cent profit.
Since Rashford, along with his agent and brother, Dwaine Maynard, attended a meeting with Ten Hag and football director John Murtough at United’s Carrington training base on 29 January, he has started every game for United. He is understood not to be seeking a move away from Old Trafford currently.
That would not necessarily deter PSG, insiders said, especially if they fail in their attempts to lure “top striker target” Osimhen, a forward who would command a considerably higher transfer fee than Rashford, to Ligue 1.
Competition for the Nigeria international will be fierce in the summer. A host of top clubs across Europe, including several Premier League sides, are reportedly interested.
Having fired Napoli to a shock Serie A title last season, Osimhen and his team have struggled this time around, with injuries hampering his campaign.
He has a tempestuous relationship with firebrand Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis, who recently admitted he “knew” Osimhen would want to leave this summer, tipping him to move to “Real Madrid, PSG or an English side”.
A fee north of £100m is expected to be needed to secure the 25-year-old’s signature.
Gavi is another player with plenty of options, given the turmoil going on at Barcelona. Coach Xavi has already announced he will be leaving the club at the end of the season, with Barca well off the pace in La Liga’s title race.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is a long-term follower of the 19-year-old and the club’s head coach Luis Enrique would be keen to work with him again, having handed him his senior debut for Spain, aged 17.
Below their top targets, i understands Joshua Kimmich is also of interest. The 25-year-old only has one year left on his contract left and may want a fresh start after a difficult season at Bayern Munich.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/VlU4FpP
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