Paris Saint-Germain’s expanded transfer budget will not help Chelsea off-load Diego Costa
By George Perry
Paris-Saint Germain are planning a record transfer window, allocating nearly £200 million for new purchases. Diego Costa is in the rumour mix, but would offer PSG very little that they do not already have in Edinson Cavani.
Paris-Saint Germain are ready to buy their way into the highest-spending tier of clubs in European football. PSG’s new technical director will have just under £200 million, nearly £70 million more than the club’s most expensive transfer spend in 2012/13.
Of their transfer purse, PSG are prepared to spend up to £87 million on a single player. Diego Costa, Sergio Aguero and Pierre Aubameyang are three of their potential marquee signings. As tantalizing as the possibility sounds, PSG have very little reason to spend that much while solving Chelsea’s Costa conundrum.
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Edinson Cavani scored 35 goals in 36 Ligue 1 appearances last season, playing in the centre of PSG’s 4-3-3 front line. This was by far his career best season. He had not scored over 20 league goals in his previous three seasons at PSG. Before coming to Paris, he scored over 20 goals in each of three seasons at Napoli at Serie A.
Diego Costa would have to dislodge Cavani from the centre-forward role if he wants any hope of playing time in the coming season. Beyond the statistics of his performances last season, Cavani is beloved and trusted at PSG. Fans may welcome Costa’s added offensive threat, but not if it came at Cavani’s expense. And definitely not if it came with the attendant Costa drama.
Costa is only two years younger than the 30-year old Cavani. If Paris-Saint Germain are willing to spend large sums on Cavani’s replacement, they will want someone younger in whom they can invest over a longer term. Costa would scarcely be worth the extra two years at the wages he will demand, and the transfer fee Chelsea will expect (particularly if they owe Costa a loyalty fee).
Diego Costa is also less flexible than PSG’s other transfer targets. Costa is only comfortable and productive playing as a traditional centre-forward. Sergio Aguero can play effectively off wing, as can Pierre Aubameyang. PSG could purchase either player without creating a competition or trade-off with Edinson Cavani.
Kylian Mbappe is in the rumour mill and would be a much better signing for PSG on every dimension. However, there is next to no chance Monaco would sell their star to their top competitor. PSG will also not want to enter a bid war in their first year of pursuing the top-line transfer. One point in Costa’s favour for PSG is that they will not have to parry competing offers.
If Paris-Saint Germain really want to buy Diego Costa in order to send a message about, well, something, Chelsea will be an enthusiastic seller. Clubs looking to make their first major splash in the transfer market, particularly if they are looking to restore their dominance after a rare second-place finish, are prone to foolhardy decisions.
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Purchasing a player on the downslope of their prime years is a questionable strategy given that AS Monaco built their title-winning club around youth. But far be it from anyone in the Chelsea camp to talk PSG out of a Diego Costa purchase. Just don’t get your hopes up.