PSG coach Luis Enrique downplays prospect of more new signings

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said on Thursday that he is “delighted” with his current squad and that the possibility of more new signings arriving before the transfer window closes next week is slim.

According to Persecondnews, PSG has already spent a reported $195 million, excluding bonuses, on four players this summer, but they have not added a new striker to replace Kylian Mbappe.

Enrique pointed out that he is happy with his current squad, but “it will be very, very difficult to strengthen the team that we have.”

When his contract expired, Mbappe, the club’s all-time top scorer, left for Real Madrid, and Portugal attacker Goncalo Ramos suffered an injury early in last week’s 4-1 victory at Le Havre in Ligue 1.

Ramos sustained an ankle injury just 15 minutes into the season’s first game and will miss three months following surgery.

“Unfortunately, Goncalo picked up an injury. It is a blow, but we still have a very good team, and I have full confidence in the players in my squad,” Luis Enrique told reporters on the eve of PSG’s first home game of the campaign, against Montpellier on Friday.

“The president (Nasser al-Khelaifi), (sporting director) Luis Campos, and I are always open to improving the squad, but it is very, very difficult to strengthen the team that we have.”

PSG last weekend completed the signing of 19-year-old Rennes winger Desire Doue for a reported 50 million euros.

The addition of the player who helped France win the silver medal at the Paris Olympics followed the signing of Portugal midfielder Joao Neves, also 19, from Benfica for a fee that could eventually reach 69.9 million euros.

Last season’s Champions League semi-finalists also signed Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho from Eintracht Frankfurt and Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov from Krasnodar.

Talk of a move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has cooled, with the August 30 transfer deadline approaching. The talks about the Nigerian international joining the French giants have lingered on for a while.

The injury to Ramos leaves Randal Kolo Muani as the obvious choice to lead the attack, although Luis Enrique could be tempted to use Marco Asensio as an unorthodox centre forward.

“We are looking around to see if players are available at normal prices, but I am delighted with the team we have,” the coach added.

“I think the president and Luis Campos have already done really well in the transfer window.

“Everything is fine at the moment, but if another player arrives, then that’s perfect.”