How Paris Saint-Germain’s Strongest XI Could Look by the Start of Next Season
By Ross Jackson
The Ligue 1 trophy has begun to look like part of the furniture at Parc des Princes over the past few seasons.
Seven league triumphs in eight seasons tells you domestic glory is no longer top of the agenda for the Paris Saint-Germain hierarchy - it’s become almost a prerequisite. European success is the chief objective in Paris these days, with the club yet to progress past the quarter-final stage since their Qatari takeover in 2011.
Thomas Tuchel knows that lifting the Ligue 1 crown isn’t enough to secure his employment in the capital, and another barren run in Europe’s premier competition could see him handed his marching orders.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the Parisian’s strongest starting XI could look next season, as they look to conquer overseas as well as on home shores.
GK - Keylor Navas
The goalkeeping spot has caused many a PSG boss sleepless nights over the past decade. The days of 90's stalwart Bernard Lama have long since passed, and the number one spot at Parc des Princes has been thrown about like a hot potato at times.
Former Real Madrid man Navas could be set to change all that. The Costa Rican may be 32 but having signed a four-year deal he is clearly someone who Tuchel sees as a long-term fix.
Navas enjoyed a solid first season in the French capital before the postponement of the league following the coronavirus pandemic.
RB – Nordi Mukiele
With Thomas Meunier looking set to head for pastures new in the Premier League this summer, the French champions will be in the market for a right-back.
PSG were rumoured to be interested in acquiring the services of Mukiele before he signed for RB Leipzig back in 2018. The Frenchman has gone on to become a regular in an up and coming Leipzig side, and PSG are side to have reignited their interest in the 22-year-old.
CB – Thiago Silva
Speculation regarding the future of Silva has been rife over the past few months, with reports suggesting he may be due to move on.
At 35 he’s certainly seen his best years, however, he is still a regular in the starting XI, and with many clubs’ transfer plans disrupted following the coronavirus outbreak, reports now suggest the Brazilian could be set to sign a one-year extension at the club.
CB – Marquinhos
If there’s one centre-back that can be assured of being at Parc des Princes next season - it’s this man.
Marquinhos has been an ever-present in the PSG starting XI since arriving from Italian side Roma in 2013. The 26-year-old has long been talked of as the natural successor to Thiago Silva both at club level and internationally.
His composure and ability on the ball make him the perfect modern-day centre-back, while his pace and positional sense have seen him become one of the world’s top defenders.
LB – Juan Bernat
Former Bayern Munich left-back Bernat has cemented his place on the left-hand side of the PSG defence since his arrival in 2018.
The 27-year-old is rumoured to be on the radar of Catalan giants Barcelona, as they seek cover for Jordi Alba. The former Valencia man seems set to remain in Paris for another season at least, however, with just a year remaining on his current deal in the capital. It remains to be seen whether his long-term future lies elsewhere.
DM- Idrissa Gueye
Having arrived from Everton last summer in a £30m deal, Gueye has enjoyed a solid start to his PSG career.
His seemingly endless energy supply means he can provide perfect cover to the PSG defence, allowing those further forward to express themselves without having to concentrate as much on the defensive side of their game.
DM – Wilfred Ndidi
Despite PSG sporting director Leonardo making a significant outlay in central midfield last summer - in which Gueye and Leandro Parades arrived at the club - they are said to be in the market for further reinforcements this summer.
Ndidi has been a standout performer in the Leicester City side for the past three seasons and is rumoured to be top of the sporting director’s wishlist this summer.
While Leicester continue to make waves in the Premier League, they would be powerless to stopping the financial clout of PSG should they wish to prise their star man away from them this summer.
CM – Marco Verratti
Without a doubt one of the best midfielders in the world.
The Italian’s playmaking skills have been at the heart of the PSG midfield for almost a decade since his arrival in the capital. Rumours regarding his future seem to have been circulating for a few seasons now, with all of Europe’s big-hitters interested.
If PSG are serious about achieving success in Europe as well as domestically, Verratti is certainly a player they will need to keep hold of.
RW – Ángel Di Maria
At the opposite end of his footballing career to Kylian Mbappé is Ángel Di Maria - but that’s not to say he’s finished just yet.
The former Man Utd man is enjoying arguably the best football of his career at 32, having notched double figures this season for the fifth consecutive campaign since arriving in France.
With Spanish international Pablo Sarabia waiting in the wings, Di Maria knows he can ill-afford to let standards drop, and that seems to be pushing the Argentina international to produce some of the best football of his career.
CF – Kylian Mbappé
Very much the jewel in the PSG crown.
World Cup winner Mbappé has become arguably the hottest property in world football since signing from Monaco in 2018. At just 21 years of age, the Frenchman already has 80 Ligue 1 goals to his name, as well as 34 international caps.
Destined to be a Ballon d’Or winner in the not too distant future, the Frenchman has a glittering career ahead of him and will no doubt be key to any success PSG go on to have.
LW – Neymar
Will he? Won’t he? Who knows?
Neymar has made no secret of his desire to return to Camp Nou, while Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to re-sign him, but with a fee capable of buying a Premier League football team in the way, the deal could be some way off.
In the meantime, the Brazilian is staying put in Paris, whether he likes it or not. And in fairness to him, his performances on the field haven’t been those of a player who has thrown his toys out of the pram. Nearly a goal a game in Ligue 1 this season tells you he’s still a valuable asset to the Parisians.