Previewing Paris Saint-Germain's 2023-24 Season: Incoming Players, Outgoing Players, Head Coach, and Possible Starting XI

Paris Saint-Germain's 2023-24 season is already shaping up to be an exciting one, with major changes expected in the squad. With Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos already confirmed to be leaving, PSG is looking to revamp their squad and make a push for UEFA Champions League success. Here's a look at what we can expect from PSG's squad for the upcoming season.

Incoming Players

PSG's sporting director, Luis Campos, has already lined up several incoming players for the 2023-24 season. Milan Skriniar, Marco Asensio, and Manuel Ugarte have already been secured, with Marcus Thuram and Bernardo Silva potentially joining as well. Skriniar and Asensio will be free transfers, while Ugarte is expected to cost around $64.5 million.
Skriniar will provide PSG with a solid central defensive option, joining Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe in that position. Asensio will offer creativity and attacking flair, potentially playing as a creator behind Kylian Mbappe. Ugarte, meanwhile, is a promising young midfielder who will add depth to PSG's midfield.
Thuram, the French international, is expected to join PSG as an additional attacker, while Silva has long been a target for Campos and could seek a new adventure after winning the Champions League with Manchester City.

Outgoing Players

PSG has already confirmed the departures of Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos, while Neymar is actively being pursued for a move away from the club. The Brazilian's departure would free up significant funds for PSG, potentially allowing them to pursue additional players like Silva.
Most of the players returning to Paris from loan spells, such as Leandro Paredes, will be pushed towards the exit again. Other players like Renato Sanches, Carlos Soler, Juan Bernat, and Hugo Ekitike could also be moved on.

Head Coach

Julian Nagelsmann is the lead candidate for PSG's head coach position, having left Bayern Munich earlier this year. The German tactician has resisted the temptation to jump straight back into work with Tottenham Hotspur and could replace Christophe Galtier, who has already been dismissed by PSG.

Nagelsmann's original hope was to persuade Thierry Henry to join him as part of his backroom staff. Whether or not the Frenchman joins him remains to be seen, but Nagelsmann is the strongest candidate for the PSG job at this moment in time.

Goalkeepers

Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to remain PSG's starting goalkeeper for the upcoming season, regardless of a change in head coach. The Italy international relegated Keylor Navas to a substitute role, which pushed the Costa Rican to join Nottingham Forest on loan last season.
The biggest question mark in this area is whether or not Sergio Rico will be replaced after the Spaniard suffered a serious injury in a horse riding accident. Any moves in this area would likely include Navas leaving on a permanent deal and a newcomer joining in what would at least initially be a backup capacity with a view to challenging Donnarumma in the future.

Defenders

With Skriniar arriving, PSG's central defensive options remain steady with three senior figures in Marquinhos, Kimpembe, and the Slovakia star. However, Skriniar and Kimpembe are recovering from surgery, which might not be complete when the season starts.
El Chadaille Bitshiabu could continue to get some minutes, while Danilo Pereira's redeployment in defense will likely continue given recent midfield additions. Achraf Hakimi and Nordi Mukiele provide depth on the right, while Nuno Mendes is an undisputed starter on the left when fit. Mukiele can also fill in more centrally if needed.

Midfielders

PSG's midfield is likely to be anchored by Marco Verratti, with Ugarte a quality addition alongside the Italian. Continuing with a 3-4-3 shape, which appears to be the thinking behind Campos' recruitment, means that Pereira is likely to be considered more of a defender than a midfielder.
This leaves Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, and Warren Zaire Emery as the three most likely middle men to continue next season. Zaire Emery is the brightest youth academy talent and already enjoyed significant minutes under Galtier, who also used him as a right-wing back when Hakimi was unavailable. The Portuguese and Spaniard are both solid squad options who can also step into the XI should nobody else be added to the group.

Attackers

Kylian Mbappe will continue to lead the front line for PSG, with Asensio coming in to add attacking flair. The departure of Messi and potentially Neymar offers an interesting possibility to reshape the attack to be more of a two-man unit with a creator deployed behind instead of a three-man approach with no real focal point at the top.
Thuram is expected to join as an additional attacker, while Silva could also be added to the mix. Other wildcard options like Wilfried Zaha could also be considered.

Possible PSG 23-24 XI

Based on the potential incoming and outgoing players, as well as the current squad, a possible PSG 23-24 XI could be as follows:
Gianluigi Donnarumma; Milan Skriniar, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe; Achraf Hakimi, Marco Verratti, Manuel Ugarte, Nuno Mendes; Marco Asensio, Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram/Bernardo Silva.

Conclusion

PSG's 2023-24 season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with major changes expected in the squad. With several incoming and outgoing players, a new head coach, and a potential new starting lineup, PSG will be looking to make a push for UEFA Champions League success. Only time will tell if these changes will lead to the elusive trophy that PSG has been chasing for years.