Transfer window slim pickings expose tensions at PSG

By




Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Stade Rennais FC, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, on January 27, 2019. (Photo by Zakaria ABDELKAFI / AFP)

Despite being one of the biggest spenders in Europe in the January transfer window, Paris Saint-Germain have lost Neymar to injury at a crucial point in the season and risk being undermined by tensions behind the scenes.
In what was a quiet window on the whole, the capital club spent a reported 47 million euros ($54 million) to sign Argentine international Leandro Paredes from Zenit Saint Petersburg and provide a much-needed extra option in midfield.

However, PSG remained light in that area with contract rebel Adrien Rabiot frozen out, and sporting director Antero Henrique spent the final days of the transfer window trying to add another signing.

Nevertheless, a move for Everton’s Idrissa Gueye failed to materialise after the English club rejected their initial offer, and an approach for Lille’s Thiago Mendes did not come to fruition either.

Meanwhile, PSG reportedly pulled the plug on a move for Argentine playmaker Luciano Acosta of DC United.

The latter would have been another creative option for coach Thomas Tuchel, who will be without Neymar until early April after the world’s most expensive player succumbed to a metatarsal injury last week.

“The winter window closed amidst total confusion for Paris Saint-Germain,” said Le Parisien on Friday.

Wenger rumours
PSG’s prospects of beating Manchester United in the Champions League last 16 — the first leg is set for February 12 — now appear to hang very much in the balance.

Reports in France have highlighted friction between Tuchel and the Portuguese Henrique, and Arsene Wenger is now being touted as a possible successor to the current sporting director.

“It is a position that could really interest him,” a source close to Wenger told AFP.

None of those issues should prevent PSG from retaining the Ligue 1 title, as they come into a weekend that will see them go to Lyon on Sunday with a lead of 13 points over Lille in second, and with two games in hand.

PSG have won on just one of their last five visits to Lyon on league duty and this could be the biggest obstacle yet to their unbeaten record in Ligue 1 under Tuchel.

Elsewhere, Saint-Etienne in fourth host fifth-placed Strasbourg, who made it through to the League Cup final in midweek by beating Bordeaux in the last four.

All change at Monaco
They will play Guingamp in the final in Lille in March, after the Brittany side beat Monaco on penalties.

Despite their defeat, it was an improved performance from the principality side in the first game of Leonardo Jardim’s second spell in charge.

As well as the change in coach, it was a chaotic January at the Stade Louis II, with eight players arriving in the transfer window and another eight leaving.

Two new faces came in on deadline day, as former Marseille winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou signed on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and French-born Portuguese international midfielder Adrien Silva joined on loan from Leicester City.

Youri Tielemans went in the opposite direction on loan having been deemed surplus to requirements by Jardim.

Monaco host Toulouse on Saturday still in the relegation zone, and still looking for a first home win this season.

“I don’t want to talk about the past. We know what has happened. My objective now is the present. With the squad we have here we are capable of succeeding,” said Jardim.

There is a reduced league card in France this weekend as Nantes play in the French Cup, in a tie that was postponed 10 days ago in the wake of Emiliano Sala’s disappearance.

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Lille v Nice (1945)

Saturday

Angers v Dijon, Monaco v Toulouse, Rennes v Amiens (all 1900), Reims v Marseille (2000)

Sunday

Nimes v Montpellier (1400), Saint-Etienne v Strasbourg (1600), Lyon v Paris Saint-Germain (2000)

French Cup last 32

Saturday

Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien v Nantes (1400)

Source:https://samueljackson12.blogspot.com/2019/02/transfer-window-slim-pickings-expose.html

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Prostitution; Nigerian Women At Growing Risk From Human Traffickers In Germany.

By
Image
According to InfoMigrants, Nigerian women are at growing risk from traffickers in Germany who exploit and engage them in prostitution. Read the full report below by InfoMigrants. The new prostitute protection law in Germany was meant to identify victims of human trafficking – most of them migrant women. More than 18 months after the law came into effect, thousands continue to be targeted for exploitation, and the risk for Nigerian women seems to be increasing. There are campervans parked by the roadside. Some have hearts painted on them, one says “girls, girls” in red letters. It’s an easy matter for someone to stop for a quick transaction in one of these Love-Mobiles – sex with one of the “girls” in exchange for the going rate. Prostitution is mainly legal in Germany, as are these mobile brothels. But many of the women in the business – including those working from the Love-Mobiles – are victims of illegal human trafficking. Most of the women are from Eastern Europe or Nige
Read more

FULL TEXT: A sacrifice for our new political order – Ezekwesili

By
Image
“When the ACPN leadership approached me in a series of visits to appeal that I run for office on their platform, the party appeared to be a good fit. It was founded by some disgruntled PDP members some years ago, but when its prime founder decided to return to the PDP, a core of its membership refused to move back with him. I was told that they stayed back because of their opposition to the ways of the PDP. Considering my vocal disapproval of the PDP and the APC, I admired the ACPN’s decision to stand firm and refusal to be co-opted.” It has been an interesting one week since I made the tough but necessary decision to suspend my campaign for the presidency. I have been truly overwhelmed by the reactions to my announcement from Nigerians. Even in airports outside the country as I travelled last week, Nigerians walked up to me with questions, concerns, encouragement, and motivation. I also saw disappointment by some who had poured their hearts and hopes into actualising our mission
Read more

Update On Slay Queen Who Was Stripped Naked And Tortured Over Missing Phone.

By
Image
The League of Patriotic Lawyers has given Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olusegun Odumosu, 24 hours to unravel those behind the torture and insertion of pepper into a girl’s private part in Benin City over alleged stealing of a mobile phone.  Chairman of the platform and former Student Union President of the University of Benin, Mr. Abubakar Yesufu, who said this in a statement yesterday, also urged the state Director, Department of State Services, DSS, to be involved in the investigation. A video of the incident, seen by Vanguard yesterday, showed the girl being stripped naked by a group of people, who inserted pepper into her private parts for allegedly stealing a phone. The unidentified girl was heard crying and saying she didn’t steal any phone, while she was being humiliated by the crowd. Yesufu said: “The League of Patriotic Lawyers has given the Edo State Commissioner of Police 24 hours to arrest and commence prosecution of all the street urchins behind this ba
Read more