19 points up in the French Ligue 1, Paris Saint Germain are sitting pretty heading into the New Year. In fact, the Parisians have more of a leg up over their league than any team in any major European football league. With the rest of the field so far back, there's very little chance that PSG won't win a fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title come springtime.
Needless to say, Paris Saint Germain have been on another level from every soccer club in France this fall. They've done so well, in fact, that you have to wonder whether or not manager Laurent Blanc will even dive into the January transfer market. Sure, he could probably pick up a few new players, same as any soccer club, but why fix what is definitely not broken?
What's Next for Ibrahimovic
Despite PSG's near-perfect position at the top of the Ligue 1, though, there has still been a rumor or two about how the football club might approach the mid-season transfer window this year.
Perhaps the biggest question right now is what will happen with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swedish striker, at 34 years old, is-on paper, at least-nearing retirement age. However, he remains PSG's top scorer, having tallied 12 goals in league and 14 overall this autumn. As the Parisians look to reach the next level by winning the Champions League, they are going to need Ibrahimovic to stick around.
The only issue is that the Swede's contract expires at the end of the season, and barring a contract extension, he could easily walk out the door for no transfer fee at that time. If Paris Saint Germain want to make some money from Ibrahimovic's departure, in other words, the January window will be their last chance to do so.
Plenty of football clubs would certainly be interested in signing a player of Ibrahimovic's caliber. So far, though, no concrete transfer rumors have emerged. There were murmurings not long ago that Arsenal would go after the Swede as a means of bolstering their injury-ridden squad. AC Milan, the club Zlatan played for from 2010 to 2012, have shown interest in inking another contract with the striker. There is also talk that Ibrahimovic could head to the United States and MLS before long.
Our prediction? Paris Saint Germain will choose to hold onto Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the remainder of the season, with a contract extension absolutely remaining a possibility. Sure, they could make some money selling him in January, but not enough to be worth losing a key player.
Other Rumors
Most of the rumors about PSG's likely January transfer plans involve selling players-not buying them. For instance, one bit of speculation suggests that Manchester United could be looking to do a double signing of PSG's Lucas Moura and Marco Verratti. Moura, a 23-year-old winger who has scored four goals this season, was a United target back in 2012 before he signed with the Parisians. Reportedly, the Brazilian player could fetch up to £22 million for Paris Saint Germain in January, with Liverpool also showing interest.
Also rumored for an exit is midfielder Adrien Rabiot. A 20-year-old talent with something of an ego, Rabiot reportedly wants to move to Arsenal and has threatened to force the issue if PSG refuse to sell him. Paris Saint Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaifi isn't too eager to let one of his most promising talents walk out the door. According to a Mirror report, Al-Khelaifi wants Rabiot to be PSG captain one day but said that the hotheaded youngster needs to "respect the club, the coach, and his teammates" first.
If there's one player who could don the PSG home shirt 2015/16 for the first time come January, it might be Christian Eriksen. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur but is reportedly being "monitored" by Paris Saint Germain. Could a transfer offer emerge for January?
Want to keep yourself up to date on the latest Paris Saint Germain transfer news? Follow Soccer Box on social media for the latest updates! We post daily on multiple platforms including Facebook, Pinterest, and Google +.
