Southampton are ‘pushing hard’ to lure Djeidi Gassama away from Paris Saint-Germain after Premier League rivals Wolves made a bid for the teenage forward, as reported by FootMercato.
News of Kylian Mbappe’s contract extension was greeted with relief from everyone at the Parc des Princes. Well, almost everyone, perhaps.
Gassama would not admit it publicly, of course, but the youngster’s hopes of forcing his way into the first-team picture at the Parc des Princes might have just gone up in smoke with arguably the greatest footballer on planet earth opting to stay put and send Javier Tebas into a meltdown.
Gassama thrives in the same left-wing role as Mbappe, after all, and has spoken openly about his admiration for the World Cup winner. So far, however, the 18-year-old has made just one senior appearance for PSG, despite some thrilling performances at youth level.
And with his contract expiring in 2023, there is a very real chance that Gassama could become the latest in a long line of talented footballers leaving the French capital in pursuit of regular first-team football elsewhere. It certainly didn’t work out too badly for Kingsley Coman, Moussa Dembele or Christopher Nkunku.
In fact, there are a whole host of talented young players who left PSG before blossoming elsewhere.
Southampton want PSG wonderkid Djeidi Gassama
FootMercato say that Southampton are one of the frontrunners. Basel, Club Brugge and Borussia Monchengladbach are interested too.
“I watch a lot of what Kylian Mbappe does,” says Gassama, who once tore Manchester City’s much-vaunted reserve team apart in the UEFA Youth League. “I observe him (and) use him as an example.”
According to FM, Wolverhampton Wanderers tried to sign Gassama on a loan-to-buy deal in January. Wolves failed to seal the deal, of course, and it remains to be seen if the same fate befalls Southampton.
Gassama would prefer to stay in Paris. He has already held talks with PSG’s new football advisor, the much-admired Luis Campos. But, as Nkunku and co will tell you, sometimes the grass is greener elsewhere.
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