As the Kylian Mbappe saga continues to dominate Paris Saint-Germain news with its daily dose of conflicting statements, leaks and a whirlwind of information, the club are simultaneously preparing for the upcoming season with the rest of the squad.
Under the leadership of Luis Enrique, PSG are currently undergoing a process of squad renewal.
This week, they have already made announcements regarding the signings of Manuel Ugarte, Milan Skriniar and Marco Asensio. Additionally, the arrivals of Lucas Hernandez, Cher Ndour and Kang-in Lee are almost certain.
However, in order to accommodate all the expected signings, PSG need to offload some of their current players.
According to reports from L’Equipe, club advisor Luis Campos, in collaboration with the Spanish coach, will notify 12 footballers before Monday that they are not part of the team’s plans for the upcoming season, giving them time to find new opportunities.
The objective is clear, which is to ensure that these players do not join the team for the tour of Japan on July 22.
The 12 footballers on PSG’s list of sellable players
- Keylor Navas
- Juan Bernat
- Mauro Icardi
- Wijnaldum
- Kurzawa
- Ekitike
- Paredes
- Draxler
- Dagba
- El Chadaille Bitshiabu
- Diallo
- Timothée Pembélé
This surplus of players is a consequence of transfer planning in recent years, that is now considered flawed by the current management.
The high salaries of some players, combined with the devaluation of their market value, pose significant challenges for PSG to offload this excess weight.
Excessive salaries at PSG
One major obstacle to the departure of the first eight players on the list is their high salaries. While offers may come in, the players’ financial demands will require significant efforts from potential suitors.
Regarding Navas, Icardi, Wijnaldum, Kurzawa, Paredes and Dagba, they were loaned out the previous season.
The former’s contract is particularly problematic. Despite having only one year left on his contract, the Costa Rican goalkeeper has expressed his desire to compete for a starting position after his loan spell at Nottingham Forest.
However, Luis Enrique prefers the departure of the former Real Madrid player to avoid any goalkeeping debates.
The stumbling block here is Navas‘ salary, as he earns 1m euros per year, considering that he is 36 years old.
Draxler, Icardi, Bernat, Paredes and Kurzawa face similar situations. These experienced players could bring valuable expertise to any team they join.
Clubs such as Atletico Madrid and Lazio have shown interest in the Argentine midfielder, who is the most sought-after player among the mentioned group.
The case of Ekitike stands out among them all. The Frenchman arrived last season as a signing requested by Mbappe, but he had a disappointing campaign. German teams such as Eintracht Frankfurt have shown interest in the 21-year-old player.
The PSG departure operation is very much underway, while everyone awaits the resolution of the Mbappe soap opera.
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