3 reasons why PSG must go all out and sign Matthijs de Ligt

#2 A prime Thiago Silva replacement

Thiago Silva, 34, pictured in training with Brazil ahead of this summer's Copa America tournament

PSG's club captain turns 35 in September and despite remaining the heartbeat of their backline, has quietly been declining over the past few seasons. Injuries and inconsistent spells are taking their toll on the Brazilian.

A lot has been said about Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe being PSG's long-term centre-back pairing. Marquinhos venturing further forward proves his versatility in midfield, while the jury is still out on Kimpembe at the highest level.

If they manage to sign de Ligt, their backline and overall squad strength gets a whole lot better - never a bad thing for a PSG side who despite their quality, have been left unfulfilled at the highest level.

Although Silva is still very good, just like Juventus' Giorgio Chiellini, there's far too much emphasis on his performances and he isn't without his flaws either - so savvy attackers who do their homework can pounce. Silva has been in Paris for seven years now but should de Ligt sign, there's a multitude of different formations and tactics that Thomas Tuchel can adopt to build the team around him from the back given his strengths.