Transfer market – Profiles, leads, needs… Who could be the three recruits Galtier and PSG are looking for?

Christophe Galtier may not have arrived in the capital to “pile up the players”, he is not done with his big maneuvers. The Paris Saint-Germain coach proclaimed it at a press conference, Parisian recruitment is not over. In addition to the transfer of Renato Sanches, formalized Thursday at the start of the evening, the former OGC Nice technician also called for the arrival of three players. After the arrivals of Vitinha, Hugo Ekitike, Nordi Mukiele and the final transfer of Nuno Mendes, the facelift of the French champion continues. But for what face? Summary of the files which should still shake the Paris transfer window in the coming days.

A strong central defender

It is a priority that is beginning to drag on. PSG has classified the arrival of a new central defender as one of the most urgent issues to deal with. The Milan Skriniar track has been discussed for several weeks now. But the soap opera begins to seriously turn in circles, between Inter Milan which claims 70 million euros for its Slovak rock, and Paris which waits, hoping to be able to lower the note. The Parisian leaders, Luis Campos in the lead, are therefore considering a plan B, especially since Thilo Kehrer or Abdou Diallo will not be retained in the event of interesting offers.

With a defense now at three as Christophe Galtier wishes, the French champion must densify his rearguard around Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe and Sergio Ramos. PSG are interested in the profile of Wesley Fofana. But the base price of the former Stéphanois, and a first offer from Chelsea of ​​75 million euros refused by Leicester suggest that Paris is already offside. Another parameter to take into account: the club wants to recruit heavyweights, without breaking the bank. The team evoked a “envelope limited to approximately 80 million euros“, excluding funds reinjected following sales. What to revive the noise of corridor leading to Gonçalo Inacio (Sporting), less expensive track mentioned in mid-July by Fabrizio Romano?

An athletic midfielder

This is perhaps PSG’s biggest summer project. With the new 3-4-2-1 system, the Parisian midfield loses an element and must partly reinvent itself to match the style of play sought by Christophe Galtier. On paper, the workforce is still provided, in addition to the pair Marco Verratti – Vitinha holder during the Champions Trophy last Sunday, and Renato Sanches who has just arrived this Thursday evening. But of all the remaining training environments, some are in the process of leaving (Wijnaldum), at the heart of insistent rumors (Gueye, Paredes), or completely shelved (Herrera, Rafinha).

An attacking delivery – finisher

This is perhaps where we least expected the Parisian club. Hugo Ekitike has arrived from Reims and Pablo Sarabia intends to prove his worth after a very convincing season in Portugal. Mauro Icardi is still put up for sale, without success. But PSG would still be looking for a center-forward with well-identified qualities: those of “handler-finisher” according to L’Equipe. In short, a player complementary to the creative Lionel Messi and Neymar, and less “ball carrier” than Kylian Mbappé. In short, a Gianluca Scamacca, a time announced close to the Parc des Princes before joining West Ham.

What then of Arnaud Kalimuendo, the young Titi on loan for the past two seasons with success at RC Lens? The 20-year-old is not a physical monster as this type of attacker can sometimes suggest. But his good preparation and especially his progress in recent months could solve the problem of PSG. Either a suitor – like Stade Rennais, mentioned recently – takes the opportunity to obtain the transfer of the player with 12 goals last season in Ligue 1 and offers an extension of budget to the champion of France. Either the qualities of Kalimuendo end up convincing the Parisian leaders that he can be the right man for this profile. His 2021-2022 statistics speak in his favor: one goal every two matches played, in the highest percentage of attackers in the five major championships with the best percentage of successful passes, in the seven percent with the best percentage of shots on target.