In the last six months, there has been much news regarding the sale of Kevin Gameiro. During the summer transfer window, many expected Gameiro to move to Bordeaux to solve their offensive problems that were sure to come (and eventually did come) with the departure of Marouane Chamakh and Yoann Gourcuff.
In the winter, there was talk about a deal in the bag that would send Gameiro to Valencia.
And with the 2011 summer transfer window about to open, the talk of an EPL transfer is growing larger and larger, with Arsenal being the front-runner.
But today, according to L’Equipe, Gameiro spoke with members of Paris St-Germain a few days ago regarding a possible transfer to the capital club. There are no real figure amounts that can be thrown around yet, but it is reported that Gameiro will only play for PSG if they are able to qualify for the Champions League. Technically, Paris, Lyon, Rennes and Sochaux are fighting for third place, which is Ligue 1′s playoff spot for the Champions League.
The addition of Gameiro at PSG would suit the team nicely. While having a decent core of players, the striking position has been suspect over the last two years. Guillaume Hoarau has either underperformed or is overrated, as he only plays well in a handful of matches. As for Mevlüt Erdinç, he has been able to show some real skill at PSG, but his availability do to health reasons continues to be a worry. In addition, Erdinç might be transferring out of Paris at the end of the season.
Gameiro would give PSG a strong and consistent player up front. Also, with the addition of Gameiro, the field should open up more for other players like Nene and Jeremy Chantome, as well as Hoarau. In fact, Hoarau could be used in a supporting role for Gameiro in the same way the Lorient forwards are used now.
But the addition of Gameiro could also be important to French football in a number of ways. First, if Gameiro does make the switch to Paris, is there a possibility that we are starting to see “the beginning of the end” of French players moving out of Ligue 1 to go to the EPL, La Liga and Serie A? In the last two years, we have seen a reduction of French nationals leaving the league. Therefore, the “Gameiro to PSG” statement could be huge regarding the state of the league. In addition to this news, we have learned that Yann Mvila will also be staying with Rennes next year, which is good news to the league as well.
The second way that the Gameiro transfer to PSG is important is because we could see the transformation of the club in a positive light. For a number of years now, PSG has been considered a retirement home for French players. And with the addition of Ludovic Giuly, Gregory Coupet and Claude Makelele, it would be hard to make an argument otherwise. But if PSG were to bring in the 24-year old forward, they are showing that they are looking to build a strong team for the future.
Thirdly, creating a highly talented, younger team means that some players that might consider leaving in the next two years, like Mamadou Sakho, would consider staying. In addition, other players from abroad, like US international Clint Dempsey, would make the trek to France because they see they are building something positive. And yes, dare I say it…could PSG return to the glory days of the early and mid 1990s?
And finally, if you were to ask many Ligue 1 followers what would make the league more popular in the world of football, almost all of them would say having a strong Paris-based team is essential to the league’s growth. The French Championship was starting to increase in popularity, even here in the States, in the 1990s because of their success. If they were to repeat that again, they could reap the same benefits as before.
A Kevin Gameiro move to England might be nice. It would help his career as well as let people around the world watch him. But a move to Paris could save the French league, as well as help Gameiro just as much. Time to choose, Kevin.
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Filed under: FC Lorient, Paris Saint Germain Tagged: | Arsenal, Kevin Gameiro
Arsenal are going to sell Nicklas Bendtner. Gameiro would be the perfect replacement……
Looks like Lorient have a few players of interest to some of the bigger names in football–how many players depart and will they have talent to compete in 2011/12?
Honestly, to start the year, many people, including myself, thought that Lorient would be doomed. They lost Sylvain Marchel to ASSE, Laurent Koscielny to Arsenal, Yazid Mansouri was out of contract and Marama Vahirua to Nancy. So things didn’t look great.
But a lot of players that were in the background when these guys were around have been able to step up, which has really helped Lorient. The question is if Gameiro and Amalfitano leave (which there is no reason to think they aren’t), can Lorient hold their head above water. More than likely, they will become an average mid-table team.
Gosh, the article is very exciting. A PSG line up with Gameiro (and a new keeper, please) would be very intimidating. Nene and Gameiro=goals.
You have a new keeper, Nicolas Douchez will be there next year.