Reports: PSG keen on signing Premier League defender
What's the rumour?
Paris Saint Germain will be looking to reinforce their defence in the summer with the addition of a new centre back. It is believed that they have set their intentions on recruiting Manchester United defender, Marcos Rojo, as per The Sun. Rojo's current deal with Red Devils expires in 2019 and an offer for a new contract has not been put on the table by the board.
In case you didn't know...
Marcos Rojo was recruited by Manchester United in 2014 following the World Cup in Brazil. His previous stint was at Sporting Lisbon where his impressive performances for the Portuguese club led to his signature by the former manager, Louis Van Gaal. He had a decent debut season as he was a prominent feature in the Premier League.
Despite setbacks, the Argentinian has been a good addition to the defence. Last season, he proved to be a key figure in Jose Mourinho's rotation in defence with them being involved in the Europa League. He went on to make 41 appearances in all competitions.
The heart of the matter
A knee injury suffered in April 2017 kept Rojo on the sidelines for seven months. He made his comeback in November when he played a game for the reserve team. Since his return, he has been able to accumulate 13 appearances in all competitions.
His strengths are his passing, clearances and his ability to hold on to the ball. He averages 5.5 clearances per game in the Premier League and is good in the air too, winning 1.6 aerial duels per game. Similarly, the United central defender is not afraid of making challenges and committing fouls, having received 5 yellow cards in his 7 league appearances.
Rumour probability/rating: 7/10
The fact that Rojo has not been offered a new and extended deal has left Jose Mourinho furious. By the end of the season, the Argentina international will have only one year remaining on his contract if his deal is not extended in the coming months. This will allow PSG to buy him for a lower transfer fee.
The Parisiens, themselves are not heavily stacked in defence. They only have three recognized first-team centre-backs. The Champions League first leg against Real Madrid was a primary example of their defence getting exposed to a big team. Since PSG aim at competing and winning in Europe, the requirement for a first choice centre-half is a must.
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Author's take
The financial power of Paris Saint Germain means that they will be able to match the demands of Manchester United. A new addition to defence is a priority or else PSG's failures in Europe will continue to rise and their weakness will also be exposed against elite European oppositions.
As per the Red Devils, if Mourinho is intent on demanding a contract extension for Marcos Rojo then his expectations must be met by the United board or else they will also have to go searching for new central defenders all over again