What are PSG without Kylian Mbappe?

In the space of two seasons, the makeup of the current Paris Saint-Germain squad has changed radically. Big names have departed and 20 new players have arrived.

This summer saw a smaller influx than the major overhaul that ushered in the Luis Enrique era in 2023, but it was no less significant because of Kylian Mbappe’s departure. His exit raised plenty of questions, some of which are still unresolved and may ultimately require a court appearance.

On the field, his goals were the main talking point. Mbappe scored 44 times in all competitions for the Parisians last season and they were reliant on him, particularly in the opening weeks of the campaign. In the league, he scored seven of PSG’s first 10 goals of the season.

So far this year, there do not seem to be any lingering dependency issues.

After four matches in Ligue 1, the French champions have a 100 per cent record and have averaged four goals per game. They have nine different goalscorers already, with Bradley Barcola leading the way with four and Ousmane Dembele matching his league return for the entirety of last season already, with three.

PSG have pivoted their squad to a younger and more sustainable outlook and that has been reflected in their recruitment. On the opening matchday of the season, when PSG defeated Le Havre 4-1, they fielded their youngest-ever professional side (an average of 22 years and 192 days).

Aside from a more youthful feel, PSG’s recruitment has focused on players capable of occupying more than one position. That is a stated aim for Luis Enrique as he looks to evolve his team tactically and improve their positional rotations and dominance of possession. “This year we are going to be even more versatile,” he said in a club interview last month. “My goal for next season is that it doesn’t matter if I’m a striker, midfielder, or defender, if I have the ball I attack, if I don’t, I’m a defender.”

There were four recruits in the summer. They were left-sided defender Willian Pacho, signed in a €45million (£37.9m; $50m) deal from Eintracht Frankfurt; Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, signed for a reported €20m from Krasnodar; Desire Doue, signed for an initial €50million from Rennes; and Joao Neves, signed from Benfica in a deal that could be worth €70million if all add-ons are met.

That leaves their current post-Mbappe squad looking like this, fitting into a tactical setup that starts with a 4-3-3 template.

Goalkeepers

There have been some changes to the goalkeeping department. Keylor Navas and Sergio Rico have both departed the club and in their stead has arrived Safonov.

The €20million deal with Krasnodar makes him the most expensive signing of a Russian player since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He is yet to debut for PSG but, following a thigh injury to Gianluigi Donnarumma against Brest on Saturday night, he may debut in the Champions League on Wednesday against Girona.

Safonov, 25, is the second new goalkeeper of the Luis Enrique era after Arnau Tenas joined from Barcelona in 2023.

Defenders

Luis Enrique regards the adaptation process for central defenders to be the most demanding within his squad due to their requirements on and off the ball. These include starting their build-up in possession and then covering acres of space when defending. Pacho, the first Ecuadorian to play for PSG, is the latest player to attempt this transition after signing as a left centre-back from Frankfurt.

The 22-year-old is the third new central defender of the Luis Enrique era. The other two, Lucas Beraldo, 20, and Milan Skriniar, 29, have had contrasting fortunes. Beraldo was signed from Sao Paulo for €20m last January and according to his new coach proved to be an “exception” because he was able to adapt to his new tactical demands within “a week”. Skriniar, meanwhile, saw his minutes dwindle last term and was linked with a move away this summer. He may still have a role to play this season, though, as injuries continue to plague Presnel Kimpembe, who suffered a setback in his return from a serious Achilles injury over the summer. Lucas Hernandez, a major signing in 2023, will be recovering from his ACL tear into next year.

Beraldo has impressed since joining PSG (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

At left-back, the starting berth is held by Portugal’s Nuno Mendes, who has put his serious hamstring issue of 2023 behind him. At right back, Achraf Hakimi will have competition from academy graduate Yoram Zague, whose progress has permitted Nordi Mukiele to join Leverkusen on loan without a buy option. Juan Bernat has also left on loan to Villarreal and should depart the club once his deal expires next year. Layvin Kurzawa was released after nine years on the books. Danilo Pereira, who made 35 appearances at centre-back last term, has joined Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

Marquinhos, the club’s record appearance holder and captain in recent years, remains at the heart of the club’s defence.

Midfielders

Luis Enrique typically fields three central midfielders and the profile of those players evolved this summer. Joao Neves has taken the defensive midfield spot of Manuel Ugarte, who has joined Manchester United. PSG did not want to lose Ugarte, but he likely would have to see fewer minutes following Neves’ arrival. Neves is a player who is more progressive on the ball and perhaps better suited to Luis Enrique’s style. “Joao Neves is a midfielder of the highest level, with the perfect characteristics we look for in a midfield player,” the coach said last month.

Fabian Ruiz has built on a strong end to last season with an exceptional Euros campaign with Spain and he has become a regular for Luis Enrique in central midfield. So have both 18-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery, who recently signed a five-year deal, and the star of last season, Vitinha. The former Wolves midfielder was regarded as PSG’s best player by his coach last term.

Of those on the move, Carlos Soler has joined West Ham on loan. Renato Sanches, who spent last season on loan at Roma, has joined Benfica on loan. Of the younger players, Brazilian signing Gabriel Moscardo, who was signed last January from Corinthians but arrived this summer, is spending his first season in France on loan at league rivals Reims. Cher Ndour has also joined Besiktas on loan.

Forwards

The headline up front is the loss of Kylian Mbappe. PSG have entered the new season by building on what they have rather than finding a direct replacement, despite their documented pursuit of Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen. There is versatility in the PSG frontline. That is typified by the standout arrival of Desire Doue, who can play in so many attacking roles that it feels remiss to just call him a forward. Our squad graphic puts him on the left, where he has been effective for Rennes, but he can play in midfield or off a striker. The left wing is now the domain of Barcola and with Dembele a firm starter on the opposite flank, they will form the crux of Luis Enrique’s dribbler-centric attack. Both have started the season well.

Barcola is the key man on the left wing (Geoffroy van der Hasselt/AFP via Getty Images)

Marco Asensio and Lee Kang-in are two more players who can slot into any position in the frontline, including as a No 9. That is partly why, following an ankle injury to Goncalo Ramos on matchday one, which will keep him out for three months, PSG did not alter their transfer plans.

Randal Kolo Muani, signed for big money last summer, completes the attack. He had a tricky season last year, not quite as impactful as Ramos, but he is another who is comfortable in a wide role. Ibrahim Mbaye has successfully stepped into the first team setup from the academy and has impressed. He became the club’s youngest-ever player when he started against Le Havre at 16 years, six months, and 23 days.

Expect to see all of these players rotated not just between the starting lineup and the bench, but also across positions during games. That is the Luis Enrique way.

Of the notable names to have departed, Hugo Ekitike completed a permanent transfer to Frankfurt after a difficult stint in Paris since his signing from Reims in 2022.

(Top photos: Getty Images)