PSG are planning great manoeuvres in & out; Harry Maguire will be away from Manchester soon; Plus a red alert at Chelsea in defence and midfield. Here are some of the main stories over the last few days of the market from TribalFootball’s transfer expert Rudy Galetti.
PSG, big names in and out: a very hot market expected in Paris
PSG close 2022 leading Ligue 1 with zero losses. The Champions League tie against Bayern Munich is still too far away to start thinking about also because, during the break for the World Cup, the French club will focus on managing their market strategy, both in- and outbound.
The noisiest names for which the future is still to be clarified are Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappè. For the former, a lot will depend on the performance of the adventure in Qatar: at the end of World Cup, the Argentine will decide what to do with his life. There are three options on the table: joining the MLS, returning to Barcelona to end the career at “his” club or renewing for another season with PSG, to pursue that much-desired Champions League that has not yet landed in Paris.
In the future of Mbappè, however, the shadow of Real Madrid always remains. Despite the ‘very rich no’ received this summer, the Blancos could make a new attempt in 2023. Whatever decisions will be made, Luis Campos and Christophe Galtier have already outlined the plan for the next market session.
The main targets are clear: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid) and Rafael Leao (AC Milan) represent the top names requested by the coach to strengthen the attack of PSG. Obviously a lot will depend on how the World Cup for the two Portuguese goes, but the French club is always vigilant and in January will begin to get more concrete for both.
Maguire, the last season in Manchester? A Serie A club thinks of him
Cristiano Ronaldo is not the only issue to be managed soon at Manchester United: there’s several players with an uncertain future inside the club.
Definitely there is Aaron wan Bissaka, who could return to Crystal Palace, Fred, whose contract will expire at the end of season and in all likelihood will leave the Red Devils as a free agent, and Harry Maguire.
The centre-back is not in Erik ten Hag’s plans and management has already communicated to the player their decision to part ways soon. So the captain of United is, now more than ever, looking around to find a new destination. An almost certain farewell in the summer, which could also happen in January if the clubs interested in him, after the World Cup, decide to speed up negotiations.
Among these teams there is certainly Leicester – for a suggestive return under the management of Brendan Rodgers, but two other Premier League clubs have also been gathering information about Harry in recent weeks.
Not only in England, the centre-back is also being watched abroad: particularly in Italy where Josè Mourinho wants Maguire. The Portuguese coach has already won a bet by bringing another great British defender, Chris Smalling, to Serie A and could do the same thing even with a great redundant like Maguire. Also because, in order to buy the highest-paid defender in the history of football, “only” 30 million euros would be enough nowadays.
Dumfries and the desire for the Premier League: Inter are already looking for alternatives
Denzel Dumfries is not a non-transferable player. His current club, Inter, is willing to negotiate if suitable offers arrive.
What do we mean, “suitable”? For the Nerazzurri it means considering offers starting with 30 million euros, not less. Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham have the Dutch player in their sights, but they haven’t taken concrete actions for him yet, waiting to evaluate how he will perform during the next World Cup.
However, Inter don’t want to take any risks and have already begun looking for possible alternatives. There are many names on the Beppe Marotta wish list, both in Italy and abroad.
In Serie A, Manuel Lazzari from Lazio – however considered too expensive – and Wilfried Singo, from Torino, tease. In Europe, on the other hand, the hottest names are Emerson Royal – completely out of Antonio Conte’s plans and who could leave Spurs as early as January – and Arnau Martinez, the Girona right-back born in 2003.
The Spaniard, thanks to a high-level performance in La Liga, could be the real low cost alternative that would allow Inter to make a capital gain with the farewell of Dumfries, without however lowering the quality of the squad.
Kaio Jorge, it’s already time to go back to Brazil
In the summer of 2021 it was supposed to be Juventus’ sensational coup, a long time battle between the Bianconeri and AC Milan, which had also set their sights on the Brazilian striker. But after just over 12 months, many injuries and few minutes played, Kaio Jorge’s adventure in Serie A seems to have really come to an end.
Certainly, his physical condition didn’t help him to integrate with the squad and to take flight in Italy too, but in addition to this, the player’s poor adaptability didn’t allow Max Allegri to achieve the objectives set in terms of impact and performance. Not surprisingly, when he was available, the coach put him on the pitch just for a few minutes.
Now Kaio Jorge is working to get back to condition, but probably, once he has recovered his best shape, his stage will not be Serie A. On the trail of the Brazilian born in 2002 there is Flamengo, which have been speaking with Juventus for some time. Contact will continue during and after the World Cup: at the moment there is a loan with the option to buy on the table and the details will be discussed in the coming weeks. The will is to find an agreement: all parties are working to reach the white smoke.
Chelsea, priority in the midfield, but a defender can come from La Liga
Graham Potter and his Chelsea are not achieving the desired results. The last win – against Aston Villa – was obtained a month ago: after that, only draws (2) and defeats (3) and, to make matters worse, the elimination from the EFL Cup at the hands of Man City.
Without qualification for the round of 16 in the Champions League, today we would be talking about a failed season. Luckily for the Blues, however, there is now the international break for the World Cup in Qatar and during the January transfer market there will also be the chance to make a few changes to the squad.
Undoubtedly the priority of Chelsea is to strengthen a midfield that appeared weak up to now and without alternatives, but the Blues will also keep an eye on some profiles for the defence.
A hot name is Josè Maria Gimenez, centre-back born in 1995 who could leave Atletico Madrid soon. Given the economic hardship of the Colchoneros and the elimination from the Champions League group stage, CFC could benefit from it and turn their interest in the Uruguayan defender into something more concrete.
The World Cup, about to start, and the possible precarious physical condition that the defenders returning from Qatar (Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta) will have, could induce Chelsea to make a move in defence over the winter market session.
