Once again, PSG are the odds-on favorites to win Ligue 1, though, as last season’s late push from Lens showed, nothing is a guarantee in a French top flight that is a little more competitive than the general football fanbase gives it credit for being.
While PSG have made strides under Luis Enrique, there are still lingering issues. The club is overly-reliant on Kylian Mbappé, the defense remains disappointing in front of Gianluigi Donnarumma, and the midfield isn’t quite able to exert dominant control over matches despite benefiting from promising young talents.
As such, PSG know they need to keep working to assemble a young, dominant midfield that can form the foundation for this team, with or without Mbappé.
Here are five possible midfield options for the best team in Ligue 1.
Nice CM Khéphren Thuram
Khéphren Thuram looked poised for a big transfer in summer 2023, but he stayed put with Nice and could move for even more money in 2024 as one of the most touted young midfielders in world football.
PSG love to sign the best talents within the League of Talents, and Thuram may be the best option in midfield when combining his future upside and already-established track record within French football.
Thuram has been solid this season for a Nice side that looks set to qualify for the Champions League. The 22-year-old has upped his game offensively with 1.3 key passes and 1.5 dribbles completed per game.
Monaco CM Youssouf Fofana
While Youssouf Fofana is no longer a prospect at the age of 24, the Monaco man is still one of the best ascending midfielders in Ligue 1 and has room to grow. There’s a belief that the Frenchman can find his best form with a bigger club like PSG, where he can exert more attacking influence.
One of the best young box-to-box midfielders in Europe, Fofana has three assists this season with 1.3 key passes and 1.1 dribbles completed per game. He is legitimately one of the best midfielders in Europe right now at winning possession, and that additional dynamism on both ends of the pitch could give PSG an injection they desperately needed.
For most teams, the question with Fofana is Monaco’s asking price, as Monaco are excellent at getting full value for their best talents. However, PSG have shown that mone is no object if they like a player.
Girona DM Aleix García
The most tantalizing possible transfer for PSG could be Aleix García, who has seven goal contributions this season despite being one of the premier defensive midfielders in LaLiga. A world-class anchoring point for a Girona side that could legitimately win the league over Real Madrid, García is now on his second season running as one of the best players in Spanish football.
With the signing of Lee Kang-in, PSG have shown a willingness to invest in LaLiga’s top rising talents. García is a little older but is an even more impressive footballer, capable of producing moments of magic while consistently running the show in midfield. He’d almost be the perfect fit for PSG on paper.
Bayer Leverkusen DM Exequiel Palacios
Likewise, Exequiel Palacios is another brilliant anchoring point and deep-lying playmaker, starting so much of what is good about the attacking Bayer Leverkusen play under Xabi Alonso. It may be no coincidence that the always-talented Palacios has truly found his quality under Alonso, who was one of the world’s best deep-lying midfielders during his playing days.
Palacios is only just entering the prime of his career at the age of 25. The Argentinian international has five goal contributions with four combined tackles and interceptions this season. As Leverkusen continue to garner headlines, Palacios’ asking price will rise, but he would be worth every penny for a PSG side that needs to replace Marco Verratti in that controlling role.
Atalanta CM Éderson
For a more dynamic option, PSG could look to Atalanta’s Éderson. Atalanta always have a smattering of quality footballers, but it seems like the Brazilian box-to-box midfielder is flying under the radar despite being one of the best players in his position in Serie A.
Éderson is a willing and capable defensive presence as one of the best pure ball-winners in the Italian top flight, averaging more than four combined tackles and interceptions per contest. Yet he’s also capable of that something special on the attacking end with four goals.
Cheaper than the other options, Éderson could be a great, under-the-radar midfield signing for the French footballing powerhouse.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.