With the confirmation of Thiago Silva’s arrival, Ibrahimovic looks set to follow his former AC Milan team mate to join the French outfit, in what seems to be a movement to make the club a real force throughout Europe next season, as well a catalyst for success in their domestic league. They fell just short last season.
Relatively rapid action in the transfer market this summer has represented this drive, with high profile signings of Lavezzi and Thiago Silva announced as the club’s players this week. The club, who lodged a mammoth bid for both Ibrahimovic and Silva last week, look set to have the Swedish striker leading their line next season, providing his contract conditions, are met by the club, which would give them their third high reputation, big money signing with more than a month of the transfer window remaining.
The signing of Javier Pastore, who reportedly rejected an approach from Chelsea at the time to join the French club in 2009, for a fee of around £30 million, as well as the signing of Lavezzi and Thiago Silva have likened the clubs spending to that of Chelsea during the early days of their Abramovich era and Manchester City’s spending shortly after the takeover by the Arab consortium. However, erratic purchases are hardly the modus operandi behind the transfers made by PSG in recent years.
Shrewd transfers in the form of Alex, who forced a transfer away from the club after former Chelsea boss Andres Villas-Boas stated he would not play the defender, Maxwell from Barcelona and Thiago Motta, who featured heavily in Inter Milan’s successful Champions League campaign under Jose Mourinho have brought experience, determination and versatility to the squad and created a foundation from which player of higher calibres are able to express themselves. Pastore is a perfect example.
The club have looked to improve their attacking options up front in the form of Nene and Jeremy Menez, who have the ability to inject pace and finishing instinct to the side. They are likely to be replaced in the side by Lavezzi and Ibrahimovic, with Lavezzi playing in a similar mould to Nene, with faster acceleration giving him the edge over most forwards of his build in football.
Ibrahimovic will bring a new dimension to PSG’s playing style, with many considering the Swede as the ‘complete striker’ due to his height giving him aerial dominance, as well as pace, close control dribbling and a powerful shot. Thiago Silva is likely to slot in the team alongside Brazilian team mate Alex, shoring up the defence by injecting pace at the back to ensure the team doesn’t get caught ball watching and to save goals in the form of last ditch tackles.
With the club being linked with many other stars following the signings of Lavezzi and Thiago Silva, there is a good chance that the club will make a few more signings before the transfer window shuts, and with the club being more marketable due to their transfer activity, football fans around Europe will be keeping a keen eye on the French League runners up as they look to assert themselves around Europe.
What signings do you think PSG will make? How far do you believe the club will get in Europe? Share your views on my twitter page/personal blog.
@Dharmesh_Tank http://dharmeshtank.wordpress.
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