Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly set to appoint Christophe Galtier and deploy a new 3-5-2 formation at the Parc des Princes. And the tactical switch could have a big impact on superstars Lionel Messi, Neymar and Sergio Ramos.
PSG are expected to sack current boss Mauricio Pochettino in the coming weeks and replace him with either Galtier or former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane.
Galtier is the current favourite for the job after working with new football advisor Luis Campos at Lille. Campos, who has effectively become PSG's director of football, has been tasked with building a squad capable of winning the club's maiden Champions League.
PSG have dominated French football since Qatar Sports Investments - a subsidiary of Qatar's state-run sovereign-wealth fund - purchased the club in 2011. They've since won eight Ligue 1 titles, six French Cups, six French League Cups and eight French Super Cups.
But PSG haven't tasted European success. The closest they've come to winning the Champions League was in August 2020, when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Germany giants Bayern Munich in the final, with ex-PSG player Kingsley Coman scoreing the only goal of the game.
According to Foot Mercato, Campos thinks Galtier is the man to lead PSG to their first European Cup. It's believed the Parisian club have agreed a €10million (£8.6m) fee with Nice to release the 55-year-old from his existing deal, which expires in June 2024.
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Galtier is expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation at PSG with Ramos playing alongside Presnel Kimpembe and Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar at the back. It's claimed the Ligue 1 champions will make a €55m (£47.3m) bid for the Slovakia international.
PSG are also believed to be after Vitinha, Renato Sanches and Gianluca Scamacca. They have reportedly agreed a fee with Porto for ex-Wolves midfielder Vitihna, while Sanches worked under Galtier at Lille and Scamacca is viewed as a back-up for Kylian Mbappe.
PSG's claimed new style will leave Galtier with a tactical conundrum. Mbappe will undoubtedly be part of the front two after signing a new three-year deal, yet it's unclear whether Messi or Neymar will partner him... or if either of them suit that style.
The two superstars were both at their peak at Barcelona as Messi played on the right of a front three and Neymar occupied the opposite flank. It's likely one of them would partner Mbappe in a front two with the other sitting just behind in the No10 role.
That's assuming one of the three midfielders will play in an advanced role. It's unclear whether Galtier will deploy a flat three in the centre of the park or two holding midfielders and a No10. Neither Messi or Neymar are capable of playing in central midfield.
Galtier has a brilliant CV. He's won the French League Cup with Saint-Etienne, the Ligue 1 title with Lille - pipping PSG to the prize - and guided Nice to the French Cup final last term, losing 1-0 to Nantes. He is also a three-time Ligue 1 Manager of the Year winner.
