The French giants, PSG, could go into the 2021/22 season with a different looking side to the one that fell short of Champions League glory once again last season.
The 2020/21 season was one to mostly forget for the PSG faithful, falling at the penultimate hurdle in the Champions League as Manchester City comfortably swept them aside at the semi-final stage.
PSG also went without what has become their customary Ligue 1 title as they were pipped to the post by Lille, who secured their first taste of league success since they last won the title in 2011.
At the turn of the year, manager Pochettino joined following Tuchel’s departure. Though he did help guide the club to yet another Coupe de France victory, he fell short of expectations both in the league and in Europe.
However, the nine-time Ligue 1 winners were unlikely to take last season’s shortcomings lying down and have already begun their hunt for new additions to bolster the playing staff.
Former Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum appeared Barcelona-bound, with the Reds opting to not extend his contract after five years at Anfield. But, PSG looks to have hijacked the deal at the last minute to steal the Dutchman from under Barca’s noises.
Recent reports state that Wijnaldum’s contract with the French outfit will see him stay in Paris until 2024. Also, he won’t cost PSG a penny in transfer fee given the expiry of his Liverpool contract. But he is not the only free transfer that Pochettino’s side could recruit this summer.
AC Milan shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma will be available after a spectacular contract saga has ended with the Italian giants withdrawing themselves from negotiations with the goalkeeper after excessive wage demands from the player’s camp.
Following six years at the San Siro, Donnarumma now looks set to join one of the few clubs on the continent who could afford such wages as PSG seek to provide the current number one Keylor Navas with some competition.
Remarkably, despite only joining six months ago, Pochettino himself has been the subject of speculation over his future, the Argentine touted with a move back to North London to reclaim his place in the Spurs hot-seat.
However, any rumors were quickly quashed by those at the top of the PSG hierarchy who asserted that Pochettino would not be leaving so soon into his tenure under any circumstances.
If he can’t return to Spurs, Pochettino is thought to be lining up a deal that would see a Tottenham star come to him in the shape of Dele Alli.
The midfielder was close to a move to Paris in the January transfer window only to have it blocked by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. It is therefore expected the French giants will renew their interest this summer.