Paris Saint-Germain is targeting Colombian forward Jhon Duran, who has impressed at Aston Villa, but faces competition from top European clubs. Victor Osimhen remains a potential summer target, along with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Meanwhile, defender Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to leave Lens for Manchester City, despite being sidelined. Montpellier’s president denied interest in Wissam Ben Yedder, emphasizing the need for actively participating players. Other transfer rumors include Lyon’s Caqueret and Neymar possibly moving to the USA.
PSG Eyes Duran, Osimhen Remains on the Radar, Kolo and Asensio in Demand
Paris Saint-Germain is making headlines this transfer window as they explore new attacking talents. One player capturing attention is Colombian Jhon Duran. Having scored 12 goals in 26 appearances for Aston Villa this season under Unai Emery’s management, the 21-year-old forward is certainly making a name for himself in the Premier League. Reports from RMC indicate that PSG officials have reached out to Duran, who is highly regarded by the club. However, his impressive performances have drawn interest from other top European clubs, including Manchester United, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, making his transfer less likely this winter. “This deal is quite complicated,” our sources explain. Duran made his move to Birmingham in January 2023 for just over €16 million and is contracted with Aston Villa until 2030, where he competes with English international Ollie Watkins. Additionally, Villa is reportedly keen on signing Marco Asensio from PSG, who is likely to be available this transfer window. On the departure front, Randal Kolo Muani has reportedly agreed to join Juventus, as per Tuttosport.
Could Victor Osimhen become a PSG player? This discussion has surfaced previously, and it has resurfaced once again, according to RMC. The capital club hasn’t forgotten about the Nigerian striker currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli. However, any potential move is anticipated to materialize in the summer rather than this January. One thing is clear: PSG is keen on monitoring the transfer market closely. Speculations also hint at Khvicha Kvaratskhelia being on PSG’s radar, particularly after he contributed significantly to Napoli’s title triumph alongside Osimhen in 2023. Despite the buzz regarding the Georgian midfielder, PSG seems to be taking a more cautious approach with this potential acquisition. Both Osimhen and “Kvara” are under contract with Napoli until 2026 and 2027, respectively, making their departure less imminent.
Khusanov’s Departure from Lens: A Likely Scenario
Abdukodir Khusanov appears set to leave Lens, as the club seeks financial relief. Reports suggest that Manchester City is prepared to invest €50 million in the promising 21-year-old Uzbek defender, as confirmed by L’Équipe. This is a deal that is hard to pass up for both the club and the player. Notably, Khusanov was absent from training on Friday, just two days before Lens’s match against Le Havre on Sunday (3 PM) in Ligue 1, raising eyebrows about his future. “He is sick (smile),” joked Lens coach Will Still when asked about the situation during a press conference.
Still further elaborated, “He was receiving treatment at the gym today with other players. Let’s be realistic; you probably have more information than I do. We know negotiations are ongoing, and there’s certainly movement regarding Kodir’s future. However, as it stands, he remains a Lens player. If there were to be any changes, you would likely hear about it before I do (smile). For now, he is still with us, albeit unwell, and we’ll see how it unfolds.” Khusanov joined Lens in 2023 for a mere €100,000.
Montpellier’s President Denies Interest in Ben Yedder
Recently, L’Équipe reported that Montpellier HSC, currently sitting at the bottom of Ligue 1, was interested in acquiring Wissam Ben Yedder, who is currently without a club following his departure from AS Monaco amid serious allegations.
However, Laurent Nicollin, the president of Montpellier, refuted these claims in an interview with Midi Libre. “This has never been a consideration for us,” he stated. “We’re facing a lot of scrutiny, but we’ve never had serious discussions regarding Ben Yedder. If every player offered to us requires justification for whether we consider them, we would be in a tough spot. We may be viewed as a struggling club, but we want an active player who is currently part of a team. Given our position, we can’t afford to wait for someone to regain their form over the next two months.”
In other news:
Lyon’s Caqueret is rumored to be close to a transfer to Italy as he misses the call-up for the match against Brest.
Barcelona is reportedly entering the race for Rashford.
Marseille has two potential English options for Wahi.
Ander Herrera is on his way to Boca Juniors.
Marseille’s De Zerbi firmly rejects any interest in Rongier.
OL’s Nuamah could be heading to the Premier League.
There are murmurs about Neymar possibly moving to the USA, with Mascherano not opposed to the idea, but…
Could Casemiro be making a winter move to Saudi Arabia?