Identifying target-men PSG could sign to free Kylian Mbappé

There is no denying the quality of Paris Saint-Germain’s forward trio. Few clubs (if any other than PSG) boast a trident featuring three otherworldly talents such as Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

The level of play showcased by this group of talents is, simply put, an outlier in world soccer. Barely entering October, the PSG trio has scored a combined 30 goals in all competitions while distributing a total of 17 assists.

Each of the three members of the triumvirate has scored at least 8 goals while Mbappe is the only one without an assist to his name yet.

Speaking of Mbappe … as great as his season has been to date, the France international and World Cup winner has been a little bit on a downslope of late. Mbappe started the campaign scoring 8 goals in the 10 first games of the season (including an Aug. 31 hat trick against Lille ) but he’s only found the back of the net twice since then in the last five games.

Interesting, too, is the fact Mbappe scored for France in the last international break while facing Austria on Sept. 22 a couple of weeks ago. That is, of course, because of what Mbappe said after that game.

“I play differently [with France]. I am asked [to do] other things here compared to my club. I have a lot more freedom here.” Mbappe was referring to the presence of a true striker in the French forward line, saying “the coach knows that there is a No. 9 like [Olivier Giroud] who occupies the defenses [so] I can walk around and go into space. In Paris, it’s different, there isn’t that. I am asked to do the pivot, it is different.”

The “pivot“, Mbappe said. Or in classic football, the “target man.”

It’s going to be quite hard for Paris Saint-Germain to find someone in the transfer market — whether that player is really available or not is an entirely different beast to deal with — on par with Neymar or Messi to replace one of them in the starting XI weekly.

But PSG should definitely be looking to bolster their assets on offense at a position where, being honest, they lack options off the bench other than inexperienced youngster Hugo Ekitike.

So, if PSG is determined to add a striker in the upcoming January transfer window or next summer to keep Mbappe happy, who are some of the most interesting options for the French club to look at? We have found four intriguing possibilities.