Two Barcelona targets based out of Paris Saint-Germain are hopeful of a Real Madrid transfer instead of heading to the Camp Nou this summer.
Barcelona will most probably be dealing with Paris Saint-Germain during the summer’s transfer window as they hope to reunite with Neymar and send Philippe Coutinho to France as part of the deal. They were sanguine about signing players from the defending French champions in the future, but that optimism has been blown away by Real Madrid’s intervention.
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The biggest transfer that the Catalans are eyeing is the signing of Lionel Messi’s replacement. The Argentine genius will not be at his best in a year or two, so Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe were the two players shortlisted to replace him. While the former is staying put to Liverpool, Mbappe’s age and desire to leave PSG put the Blaugrana in pole position to land him.
Additionally, they are set to lose out on Matthijs de Ligt to Paris Saint-Germain or Juventus, so Barcelona will want to move for a central defender who would gradually be able to fill-in for Gerard Pique at the heart of defence. Hence, PSG defender and Brazil international Marquinhos was shortlisted as the option, at a rate of 60 million euros.
Unfortunately for the Spanish champions, their board of directors is uncompetitive and flawed to say the least and has allowed Florentino Perez, Real Madrid’s president to pounce. It is no secret that Barcelona’s relationship with Paris Saint-Germain is stale and thus, Nasser Al Khelaifi prefers dealing with their arch rivals based out of the capital city, according to Diario GOL.
Paris Saint-Germain are aware that Kylian Mbappe will leave for Real Madrid at one point and are ready to allow his departure in 2021. In the meantime, Florentino Perez will save for arguably his biggest signing since Cristiano Ronaldo, while Karim Benzema, his and Zidane’s favourite would have gone past his prime over the next two years.
Madrid’s good relations with PSG would allow them to get Mbappe at a reasonable rate and would be treated doubly by signing Marquinhos for roughly 45 million euros. The Brazilian would be a good backup for Sergio Ramos with Nacho set to depart, and could eventually replace the Los Blancos’ captain next to Raphael Varane after a few years.
Between Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe, who would best fill Lionel Messi’s boots?