Unai Emery’s PSG have not been cruising along as well as people would have thought…but that could change. Picture: Sport.fr
Paris Saint-Germain got the new season off to a winning start, beating Amiens 2-0, while defending champions Monaco twice went behind before winning their game.
The Ligue 1 holders are expected to be PSG’s biggest threat in the title race, but their decision to sell so many key players while the Parisians signed a world-class defender and forward could see the crown switch clubs.
So is it PSG’s to lose?
Paris Saint-Germain have improved the squad while Monaco have weakened
The best way to win back the title off your rivals is to strengthen the squad while they weaken theirs. That’s exactly what has happened between PSG and Monaco this summer, with the former setting a new world record transfer fee to sign Neymar from Barcelona, while Monaco have lost a number of their key players that helped them to the title and Champions League semi-finals.
Paris Saint-Germain signings
- Neymar (FC Barcelona) £188.70m
- Yuri Berchiche (Real Sociedad) £13.60m
- Dani Alves (Juventus) free transfer
Monaco’s summer sales
- Benjamin Mendy (Man City) £48.88m
- Bernardo Silva (Man City) £42.50m
- Tiemoué Bakayoko (Chelsea) £34.00m
- Valère Germain (Marseille) £6.80m
- Abdou Diallo (1.FSV Mainz 05) £4.25m
- Corentin Jean (Toulouse) £2.98m
- Nabil Dirar (Fenerbahce) £2.98m
Monaco have endured a summer of distraction due to the number of players being linked with moves away to European sides, while having an inconsistent per-season as a result from the side not being able to settle.
Thomas Lemar has been linked with Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Barcelona. Kylian Mbappe has been linked with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Arsenal. Fabinho was linked with Manchester United.
Paris Saint-Germain have had to endure speculation surrounding Marco Verratti potentially moving to Barcelona, but the player issued a quick apology for having his head turned and a new bumper move could be on his way if reports are to be believed. Serge Aurier might be exciting the Parc des Princes this summer, but there isn’t any other notable exit on the horizon.
No side will be able to douse PSG’s attacking firepower
Monaco lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions last month and could be one of many clubs struggling to contain the side. To add Neymar to an attack already featuring Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore, Angel Di Maria, Julian Draxler, let alone the attacking threat from out wide from wing-backs Dani Alves and Layvin Kurzawa, is a terrifying prospect.
Paris Saint-Germain have so much firepower to challenge on all four fronts, so much so that winning the Ligue 1 title is perhaps a minimum requirement given their spending this summer. Paris Saint-Germain are 1/6 to win the Ligue 1 title this season.
Can anyone stop them?
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