3 Players With Ties to Spurs That PSG Could Target in January | OneFootball

There’s been no official word from Paris Saint-Germain that manager Thomas Tuchel has been sacked much less a replacement being named. However, all reports indicate that Tuchel will be let go sooner rather than later and Mauricio Pochettino will return to his former club to take over.

While PSG supporters wait for an app alert to make the news official, it’s fun to dream what a Pochettino-led team will look like and what new players could potentially arrive when the January transfer window opens up.

Navigating the upcoming transfer window will be difficult due primarily to the financial impact of COVID-19. We would all love to see PSG sign a player like Sergej Milinković-Savić from S.S. Lazio but his price tag makes that deal practically impossible.

Instead, PSG will be looking for bargains in the transfer market with loan deals likely preferred. Also, with Pochettino set to arrive, it’s typical for a manager to want to bring in players they’ve worked with previously.

With that in mind, here are three players I believe PSG could sign in January that would fill a need and find a familiar face in Pochettino.

Serge Aurier

Ah, our old friend Serge Aurier. PSG signed the right-back in 2015 from FC Toulouse but he didn’t stick around long. Following his social media outburst, Les Parisiens shipped him to North London to team up with Pochettino where the two reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2019.

Aurier continues to speak highly of PSG and has stated that he wouldn’t refuse a proposal to return to the French capital. Currently, Alessandro Florenzi is PSG’s starting right-back with Colin Dagba and Abdou Diallo capable of filling in as backup.

Aurier isn’t the most consistent player but he is an attack-minded full-back with a high work-rate. I believe under Pochettino at PSG, he could thrive with the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Neymar Jr., Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi, and Moise Kean ahead of him in the attack.

According to Transfermarkt, Aurier has a market value of €20 million and with his contract set to expire in June 2022, Spurs may be willing to negotiate with PSG.

Christian Eriksen

PSG needs a creative midfielder, you say? Well, Christian Eriksen fits the bill. The 28-year-old Denmark international left Spurs last January for Inter Milan but things haven’t gone to plan and he’s reportedly available once the transfer market opens.

Eriksen is under contract with Inter until 2024 and while they’re offering Eriksen to teams for less than what they paid Spurs initially, PSG could explore a loan option for the remainder of the season to avoid a transfer fee.

Pochettino coached Eriksen for several seasons and he started in the midfield for Spurs in that Champions League final against Liverpool FC. PSG’s attacking talent is far superior to Tottenham and you have to wonder what Eriksen could do in the midfield alongside Marco Verratti. We may not have to wait long to find out.

Dele Alli

Dele Alli thrived under Pochettino but José Mourinho hasn’t been as impressed. The 24-year-old has only made 11 appearances across all competitions this season and is keen on leaving Tottenham this January with PSG the likely destination.

Alli’s contract will be troublesome, though. The England international is tied to the club until 2024 and Daniel Levy, Spurs’ chairman, will command a large transfer fee. If Levy agrees to a loan deal, though, I think that is something that would benefit all parties involved.

Whether or not Alli arrives might depend on what happens with Eriksen and vice versa. I don’t think PSG need two attack-minded midfielders. They still need to address their defensive woes with Presnel Kimpembe recently going down with an injury and a giant Thiago Silva-sized hole remaining at the center-back position.

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