PSG: Eight players who could be sold as giants prepare clearout
Following Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League exit, Le Parisien has named eight players whose days at the Ligue 1 club could be numbered.
The focus in France is now on the changes that must be made at Paris Saint-Germain following the Ligue 1 giants' elimination from the Champions League. After all, continental success was the chief objective for a club who, though dominant domestically, continue to be left with plenty to prove in Europe.
Indeed, this week's defeat to Real Madrid saw PSG suffer a last-16 Champions League exit for the second straight season, and maintained their record of having failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals since 2011's Qatari takeover.
Eight players who could be sold by PSG this summer
And while coach Unai Emery is widely expected to be replaced next season, Le Parisien has also highlighted several players whose futures at the the Parc des Princes must now face serious question marks.
The list begins in defence, where right-back Dani Alves' "intensity does not make up for his loss of technical influence". Alves, 34, is described as being an obstacle to the development of Thomas Meunier, although the article concedes that offloading the veteran would not be easy, as he has a contract until 2019 and, above all, enjoys such a close relationship with star figure Neymar.
A change of personnel is also proposed on the other side of the Parisians' defensive line, with neither of PSG's present left-backs, Layvin Kurzawa and Yuri Berchiche, considered to be reliable options.
Further up the pitch, says Le Parisien, it could be the right time to push Edinson Cavani, Marco Verratti, Ángel Di María and Javier Pastore towards the exit door, with the quartet likely to net PSG sizeable transfer fees that would help the club to reconcile its accounts with Uefa's 'financial fair play' regulations.
Meanwhile, the final candidate to be sold is Adrien Rabiot. Despite the media outlet recognising the highly-rated youth product as a potential PSG captain, it is felt that the 22-year-old's wage demands could end up pricing him out of an extension to his current contract, which expires in 2019.
Sporting director Henrique also in danger
Le Parisien also identifies sporting director Antero Henrique as a contender for the chop, dedicating a full article to his future. Henrique is accused of failing to step up to the plate in the wake of president Nasser Al-Khelaifi's move to a more hands-off day-to-day role at the club.
What's more, the Portuguese is criticised for his handling of issues such as last autumn's Cavani-Neymar conflict over penalty-taking duties.
Estimated market value of eight players identified
| Player | Age | Value per TM1 | Value per CIES1 |
| Alves | 34 | 6 | 4.8 |
| Kurzawa | 25 | 22 | 16.2 |
| Yuri | 28 | 15 | 12.3 |
| Rabiot | 22 | 45 | 35.9 |
| Cavani | 31 | 60 | 88.9 |
| Verratti | 25 | 70 | 55.6 |
| Di María | 30 | 40 | 23.8 |
| Pastore | 28 | 18 | 5.1 |
Sources: Transfermarkt and CIES Football Observatory.
1Figures in millions of euros.
