Paris Saint-Germain are looking to offload Mauro Icardi alongside six other players in January for both financial and squad building purposes.
Many clubs have inquired about the 28-year-old Argentine, who has found it difficult to seal a starting spot in the PSG attack that had Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Angel Di Maria.
Lionel Messi’s arrival over the summer made his chances even more complicated, and the striker looks to be out of the door as he seeks more playing time.
Prior to his signing for PSG in 2019, Icardi was courted by Juventus who have not given up interest in the striker. The Bianconeri have tried again, proposing a swap deal involving out-of-favour Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo.
Reports from Gazzetta Dello Sport claim that PSG chief, Leonardo Nascimento de Araújo has refused to take Juventus up on the offer despite looking for ways to offload the former Inter Milan man.
Icardi is under contract at PSG until 2024 and Gazzetta Dello Sport also reports that PSG chief Leonardo is looking for nothing short of a loan with an obligation to buy clause attached to it.
Chelsea and Arsenal have also been linked with January moves for Icardi, who has five goals in 20 games this season and 38 total goals in 82 total appearances for PSG since 2019.
PSG look to ship out seven players in January
PSG’s only activity in January will be transfers of players out of the club, according to reports from L’Equipe.
The club feel they’re currently overstaffed and January is a good time to move some of them out. The club hierarchy have identified seven players who will be leaving the club as soon as January, provided good deals are tabled for them.
Sergio Rico, Rafinha Alcantara, Eric Ebimbe and Layvin Kurzawa are names which the club deems not a good fit for their current project and will be the first to get the axe.
Meanwhile, Colin Dagba and Abdou Diallo are deemed surplus to requirements by Mauricio Pochettino. All these players, alongside Mauro Icardi, could be leaving PSG in January.
Regardless of what happens at Parc De Princes in the winter transfer window, this season seems to be the last season for these players in PSG colours.
Juventus offer Arthur to Arsenal
Arthur has struggled at the Allianz Stadium since moving from Barcelona on the behest of then Juventus boss, Maurizio Sarri who looked to make Arthur into his new Jorginho.
This season, he has only made 10 appearances for the Bianconeri under his belt this season, summing up to 40 appearances for Juventus to date.
Arsenal will be losing two midfielders to the African Cup of Nations which begins in under two weeks and have been reported to be on the lookout for midfielders to fill that void.
Mohamed Elneny, one of the two Arsenal midfielders who will be leaving for Afcon next month could also not be returning to the Emirates as he’s currently a transfer target for other clubs.
Arthur is one of those the Gunners have been scouting as a replacement for Elneny and to shore up their midfield as games come thick and fast in the Premier League.
Juventus have offered the Brazilian to the North London club and are currently awaiting a response.
Sevilla are also interested in the Brazilian ahead of January and have also begun plans to make contact with Juventus, according to reports.
