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Paris Saint-Germain endured a double heartbreak last season. AS Monaco trumped them in stunning fashion to the Ligue 1 title while the capital club crashed out of the Champions League in the round of 16 against Barcelona after holding a 4-goal lead from the first leg.
One of the wealthiest clubs in the world ever since Oryx Qatar Sports Investments (QSi) took over in 2011, PSG have stuttered in their attempts to become a true European force. Thus, the club went all out in this summer transfer window.
As a result, the entire market changed in the final month of the window with clubs re-evaluating their players' prices. The French club strengthened their side significantly before the transfer window closed.
Also Read: Is 2017 the year of Paris Saint-Germain?
In order to compensate for the big spending as well as the influx of players, several players were moved or loaned out. Thus, PSG were pretty active in the transfer window for its entirety.
On that note, here are the grades for PSG's summer transfer window.
Ins
Yuri Berchiche - Backup
The least-known player on the list, Yuri Berchiche was signed from Real Sociedad for £14 million. The left-back played a key role in the Basque club's sixth-placed finish in La Liga last season.
At PSG, Maxwell's retirement meant Layvin Kurzawa was the only recognised left-back. Thus, the capital club were looking for a backup and Berchiche fit the profile. The 27-year-old brings in vast experience from his stint in the La Liga and was a rumoured target for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Thus, PSG managed to strengthen the left-back position with an experienced and strong defender for cheap, allowing them to spend big elsewhere.
Grade - 6/10
Dani Alves - The perennial winner's next destination
Dani Alves and success go hand in hand. The high-flying Brazilian became the best right-back in the world at Barcelona, winning several trophies in the process. In the previous season, he joined Juventus and added two more trophies to his cabinet.
However, following an alleged disconnect between him and Juventus, the 34-year-old was heavily tipped to join former manager Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. However, Paris Saint-Germain swooped in for the attacking full-back before the rest.
Although Alves is not a long-term investment, he brings with him a strong winning mentality, especially in Europe. The former Sevilla full-back has nine European medals, putting him second on the all-time list headed by AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini.
Further, there is a strong Brazilian and South American contingent at the capital club with the likes of Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Lucas Moura, Edinson Cavani and Angel Di Maria all members of the first team. Thus, there is coherence on and off the pitch, which is expected to bring better results.
Overall, Alves' transfer has both footballing and strategic reasons to it and the move will benefit everyone including right-back Thomas Meunier, who can learn from one of the best attacking full-backs of all time.
Grade - 7.5/10
Neymar - The move that shook the world
The summer of 2017 will forever be remembered for Neymar's €222m transfer from Barcelona to PSG and its numerous implications. The transfer shook the notion that Barcelona are one of the biggest destinations for top players.
Also Read: Neymar, Barcelona, PSG, and the 'values' of a modern footballer
While the shock waves will continue to ripple around the footballing world, Neymar's signing is the biggest statement of intent made by any team in this summer's transfer window. The Brazilian is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world and at 25 years of age, his best years are in front of him.
Neymar's signing will give PSG an instant lift, especially in the Champions League. The French side are perennial contenders for the Ligue 1 crown but failed to make a sustained challenge in Europe's top competition in recent seasons.
The money PSG paid to secure Neymar's services is controversial in Financial Fair Play (FFP) terms and questions will certainly arise on how the club will balance their books. Nevertheless, in Neymar, Les Parisiens have a player ready to step out of Lionel Messi's shadow and a very likely Ballon d'Or winner in the near future.
Grade - 9/10
Kylian Mbappe - The next Thierry Henry?
As if signing Neymar did not turn enough heads, PSG went one step further and signed Kylian Mbappe, the most-wanted youngster in Europe, soon after. The Monaco forward burst onto the European stage last season, helping his team win the Ligue 1 and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The 18-year-old scored 26 goals and assisted 11 across all competitions last term, a staggering achievement. Every top club in the world vied for his signature throughout the summer and in the end, Mbappe joined Monaco's title rivals PSG on a loan deal. The loan deal helps PSG deal with FFP regulations while the capital club will pay £166 million to make the transfer permanent next summer.
Also Read: Neymar, Mbappe and PSG not making a joke out of Financial Fair Play: FFP is the joke
Looking at it purely as a loan move, there is no doubt that this is the best loan deal of this summer. Mbappe's finishing, composure and sense of occasion are already among the best, leading to comparisons with Thierry Henry.
Thus, in Mbappe, PSG have a brilliant French talent; an excellent goalscorer who will feature in a mouth-watering attack alongside Neymar and Cavani. MNC anyone?
Grade - 9/10
Outs
Serge Aurier - A fresh start
The arrival of Dani Alves meant PSG had three right-backs with Meunier and Serge Aurier already at the club. Aurier's off-field issues meant it was he who was more likely to be sold. When Tottenham came in with an offer of £23 million, the Ivory Coast international was allowed to head to England on deadline day.
Also Read: Serge Aurier: Tottenham’s new star shaped by civil war, upheaval and shady characters
The 24-year-old is an attack-minded full-back in the mould of Kyle Walker, with pace, energy, and end-product in abundance. Aurier initially joined PSG on loan in 2014 before making the deal permanent the following year.
After three years at the French club, the right-back was moved on by PSG as they looked at every opportunity to balance the books through sales that did not affect the squad significantly. Thus, the deal represents good business for PSG, Tottenham, and Aurier.
Grade - 7.5/10
Blaise Matuidi - Balancing the books
Several reasons can be put forth for PSG selling Matuidi to Juventus for £18 million. The 30-year-old is third in the pecking order in midfield with Adrien Rabiot and Marco Verratti ahead of him. The Frenchman has only one year remaining on his contract and his age meant a transfer made sense.
Moreover, Neymar's arrival made the decision to offload Matuidi easier for PSG who did not hesitate or haggle with Juventus regarding a transfer fee. Thus, Juventus obtained an experienced midfielder on the cheap in today's market.
The Frenchman spent a fruitful six years in Paris and will relish the opportunity to continue competing at a top level with Juventus. In fact, PSG might face him in the latter stages of the Champions League if both teams progress.
The only sticking point for PSG is that they failed to get in Fabinho from Monaco or Jean Seri from OGC Nice, leaving them a little light in midfield. Further, the capital club could have got a better deal given several clubs would have loved to acquire Matuidi's services.
Grade - 6.5/10
Jean-Kevin Augustin - Collateral damage
What happens to a 20-year-old striker who needs game-time and nurturing when the club sign two of the most expensive strikers in world football? For Jean-Kevin Augustin, it meant a move to RB Leipzig for under £15 million.
The Frenchman, who graduated from the PSG academy, played over 30 times for the club, winning eight titles. However, uncertainty over the amount of game-time he would receive after the arrivals of Neymar and Mbappe led to him moving to newer pastures this summer.
PSG got decent money for the player in a department well-stocked with world-class talent. On the other hand, Leipzig acquired a talented young striker who would fit in well with their youthful squad.
Grade - 7/10
Youssouf Sabaly - Finally a permanent move
Sabaly is another academy graduate who was loaned to various clubs over the past three seasons. The versatile full-back can play on either flank and has experience in Ligue 1 due to spells at Evian, Nantes, and Bordeaux. In the end, he joined Bordeaux permanently this summer for around £4 million.
The Paris club are well-stocked in the full-back department and this meant there was next to no chance of regular game-time for Sabaly and at 24 years of age, he needs to play as often as he can.
Thus, while Sabaly might not have progressed in the way PSG would have liked him to, his move away gives him an opportunity to do just that.
Grade - 6/10
Salvatore Sirigu - End of the road
PSG's custodian ever since the club's takeover, a change of dynamics led to Sirigu's exit this summer. The Italian was no longer considered the no.1 at the club and after loan spells in Spain last summer, his contract was terminated. Sirigu will be plying his trade for Italian side Torino this season.
Sirigu was one of the senior figures at PSG during the club's rise this decade and he won several trophies with the capital club. However, Kevin Trapp and Alphonse Areola are manager Unai Emery's preferred goalkeepers for this season, meaning Sirigu had no option but to look elsewhere.
While Sirigu's departure could have been handled in a better manner, it is another player off the books for PSG.
Grade - 7/10
The Loan Bunch
The immediate need to reduce the wage bill is clear with Neymar and Mbappe's arrivals. While a few players were sold for the same purpose, a few more were loaned out to lighten the load on the club.
Amongst them, former Real Madrid attacker Jese Rodriguez to Stoke and Grzegorz Krychowiak to West Brom were the big moves. Maxwell's retirement led to further reduction in wages while Goncalo Guedes, Jonathon Ikone, Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck were loaned out as well.
Grade - 7/10
Thus, PSG managed to put themselves back on the footballing map with their statement transfers. While most of the signings strengthen the side, the lack of depth in central midfield could potentially hurt the team this season. Barring that, this is a transfer window to remember for Les Parisiens.
Grade - 8.5/10
