PSG want Mikel Arteta reunion

Tom Weber

• Updated: 17 Apr 2023 15:40 BST
• 3 min read

The Christophe Galtier experiment at Paris Saint-Germain appears to be coming to an end, and the French giant are said to be keen on bringing back former player Mikel Arteta to spearhead their new project.

Though PSG have now won two games on the bounce, the damage has already been done: head coach Galtier has fallen out of favour for several reasons and the soon-to-be Ligue 1 champions will be in the market for a new manager yet again this summer. Failure in the Champions League and Coupe de France are the sporting grounds for Galtier's fall from grace, while more unsavoury things have been bubbling behind the scenes. Indeed, some reports have suggested that the 56-year-old could already be fired before the season's end.

The departure of Lionel Messi looks increasingly likely, while Kylian Mbappe could also be on his way out. Neymar's fitness issues are a persistent problem and the likes of Sergio Ramos and Marco Verratti are not getting any younger. The next few transfer windows could be the end of a cycle of sorts, a cycle during which PSG miserably failed to achieve the raison d'etre behind Qatar's investment in the club: winning the Champions League.

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A new coach may not only be a fresh face on the sideline but also the leader of an entirely new project. Getting the right man is, therefore, crucial.

Arteta back in Paris?

First reported by The Sun and now backed up by Footmercato, PSG have apparently identified current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta as just the man to lead the club into the future. Arteta is favoured not just for his coaching credentials but also because he is familiar with the environment at PSG and Ligue 1, having played for the club in the early 2000s.

READ: Arsenal monitoring Ollie Watkins ahead of summer transfer window

Talks over a contract extension at Arsenal have ground to a halt in light of their unexpected title charge and PSG could swoop in to make an irresistible offer before the Spaniard makes a decision regarding a new deal with the Gunners.