Beyond a quiet January, PSG scouts Portuguese U17 World Cup champions, eyeing Benfica's prolific striker and tenacious captain for future squad reinforcements.
The winter transfer window opened this Thursday, Jan. 1, in France, and while PSG does not plan to be very active, barring a departure to compensate for or a major injury, it is supervising several players for next summer, according to the latest reports in the French press. Players who had never been linked to PSG until now.
The Parisian club returned to training on Friday morning at the Campus PSG in Poissy after being left to rest on Thursday, following New Year's Eve. While Luis Enrique's men prepare for the first derby of the month against Paris FC, Luis Campos is focused on the winter transfer window, which just opened its doors.
However, the Portuguese executive should not be overwhelmed, as PSG does not plan to be very active in terms of arrivals this January, as confirmed again by Le Parisien, which nevertheless assures that the club will strengthen in case of a major injury or the departure of a player like Lucas Beraldo.
PSG Eyes Portuguese Youth Stars for Future Moves, Despite Quiet January
For the moment, the Brazilian is still there, and PSG is not sounding out the center-back market, according to the regional daily. Le Parisien also reveals that versatile Moroccan attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari (24 years old), who is shining at PSV Eindhoven and currently playing in the Africa Cup of Nations, was offered to PSG in December. Without success for now, as the club has not moved on this file, which nevertheless remains one to watch in the coming months.
Still, according to this source, PSG has, on the other hand, been impressed by two Portuguese U-17 world champions. Luis Campos had confided this in recent days to the Portuguese media, but without giving names.
According to Le Parisien and L'Equipe, PSG thus appreciates the young center-forward Anisio Cabral (17 years old, Benfica), who finished as the second-top scorer of the U-17 World Cup with 7 goals, including the winning goal in the final against Austria.
But according to the regional daily, PSG also appreciates the captain of this young Portuguese team, who also plays for Benfica, a certain Rafael Quintas (17 years old), a small defensive midfielder (1.73m). Two players who have high stock and also appeal to Premier League giants, including the two Manchester clubs, according to the same source.
On Thursday, L'Equipe also mentioned PSG's interest in Portuguese right-back Alberto Costa (22 years old), who has played 23 matches with FC Porto this season, with 6 assists. The latter has the particularity of being represented by the AS1 agency, like young Anisio Cabral and Nuno Mendes.
It should be noted that in the middle of the week, the English press revealed PSG's interest in Yan Diomande, a 19-year-old Ivorian winger who is exploding this season at Leipzig and is currently playing in the Africa Cup of Nations. A very competitive and expensive deal that seems to have little chance of being completed in January.
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