Paris Saint-Germain have put contract extension talks with Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos on hold as they seek to cut costs – and the duo may lead an exodus from the club this summer.
The French giants have concerns they will face fresh Champions League sanctions for further Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches after being hit with a €10million fine for their 2020-21 season accounts with a €45m suspended fine for future breaches.
The French league leaders were dumped out of the competition with a tame three-goal aggregate loss against Bayern Munich last week. Now, they are aiming to restructure their squad to drastically reduce outgoings and comply with financial regulations.
They are in a precarious position as their squad is a small one and has been stretched by injuries this season. They ended the game in Munich with defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu, 17, and midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery, 16, finishing the game to replenish their ranks.
Yet a report from L’Equipe outlines how a number of players may leave the club this summer. Midfielders Carlos Soler, Renato Sanches and Fabian Ruiz are all said to have uncertain futures while left-back Juan Bernat is also likely to be moved on.
That follows the pausing of contract talks with both Messi and Ramos, with no official decision yet taken over their futures. Both stars are out of contract this summer, while Hugo Ekitike’s loan deal will expire – and he could return to parent club Reims.
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There are also a plethora of former first-team stars who are out on loan deals. Those eight players are all open to permanent sale by the French champions, although arranging permanent exits with their respective wage packets may prove difficult.
Among them is goalkeeper Keylor Navas at Nottingham Forest, defenders Colin Dagba (Strasbourg), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig) and Layvin Kurzawa ( Fulham ), along with Julian Draxler (Benfica), Leandro Paredes ( Juventus ), Georginio Wijnaldum (Roma) and Mauro Icardi (Galatasaray).
The club are intent on evolving their squad to create a greater pathway from their youth ranks through to the senior team while this motivation is heightened by their record losses. That scenario has led to them being forced to hold off on new contracts while also welcoming offers for all players on the fringes of the first team.
