PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN tried to sign Zenit Saint Petersburg star Malcom in January, reports suggest.
PSG needed a winger, which is why they also targeted Chelsea ace Hakim Ziyech who fell out of favour at Stamford Bridge despite his 2022 World Cup heroics for Morocco.
According to L’Equipe, the reigning French champions’ sporting advisor Luis Campos tried to land the Brazilian for free by exploiting a Fifa loophole.
That rule allows foreign players from Russian and Ukrainian clubs to temporarily cancel their contracts due to the war.
FIFA made that decision after Russian president Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion in Ukraine back in February 2022.
Football clubs and players will only be able to use that rule until June.
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But in Malcom’s case, it was discovered that Zenit had inserted a clause into his extension last summer which stipulates that he can’t make himself a free agent.
Therefore, the Russian club can demand a £27m fee for the forward.
However, PSG were unwilling and unable to meet the ex-Brazil Under-23 international’s release clause.
That is why the Ligue 1 giants turned to Ziyech and almost signed him on deadline day.
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But a loan move collapsed after Chelsea sent over the wrong documentation and infuriated PSG.
Christophe Galtier’s side also targeted other wingers, such as Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko.
PSG needed reinforcement after Pablo Sarabia left Parc des Princes for Wolves earlier in the window.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
