Mauricio Pochettino could be plotting a move to sign Real Madrid duo Marcelo and Isco once he gets appointed as the new Paris Saint-Germain manager.
In recent days, reports have been rife regarding PSG’s managerial position, with Mauricio Pochettino touted to replace Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked earlier this week. And now, according to the latest report by Todofichajes, the former Tottenham manager has already identified his potential January targets in Real Madrid stars Marcelo and Isco.
The two players are likely to be sold by Real Madrid in the upcoming January transfer window, giving Pochettino the ideal opportunity to secure their services. The Argentine, however, could be initially looking for a loan deal with an option to sign in the summer, though the buy option should just work as a sweetener in Real Madrid’s deal to sign Kylian Mbappe.
It seems the move makes sense for all parties involved, especially for PSG who are lacking options in the attacking midfield department. While summer signing Rafinha has stepped up well this season, the French champions do need a proper replacement Julian Draxler, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
It could be ideally set the stage for Isco to become a crucial part of the team, although PSG could potentially face competition from Arsenal.
As for Marcelo, he could be a quality alternative for Layvin Kurzawa, who simply hasn’t managed to properly replace the injured Juan Bernat at left-back. The ageing Brazilian, in that regard, could bring the winning mentality as well as the experience that has been lacking in the PSG backline since the departure of Thiago Silva.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, could also welcome the departure of these two individuals in January, as they are not involved in Zinedine Zidane’s plans. It could, in fact, allow Los Merengues to balance their wage structure as they brace themselves for a potential rebuild next summer, with the club also eyeing a few moves in the January transfer window.
However, a long-term worry for Pochettino could be the potential departure of Mbappe. The Frenchman’s potential departure, combined with the injury record of Neymar, could massively skew PSG’s chances of doing well in the Champions League so it will be a challenge for the Argentine tactician to come up with a viable replacement for the youngster next summer.