Why Lavezzi Is the PSG Player Who Would Most Benefit from a January Transfer

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Back on the bench for the first time this year, Ezequiel Lavezzi made his return to the Paris Saint-Germain team for the last 10 minutes of the 4-2 win over Evian Thonon Gaillard on Sunday. It was no more than a fleeting appearance, barely touching the ball and lacking the time to make any sort of impact.

It could be something the Argentine winger has to get accustomed to this season, unless he leaves the French capital before the end of the transfer window.

Last season, Lavezzi was regularly the third member of PSG’s attack, playing on the left, beside Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But his late return from the World Cup in Brazil has caused him to lose his starting place, and then the attitude issues have begun to surface.

For Coach Laurent Blanc, the apparent straw that broke the camel’s back came during the winter break.

Lavezzi’s failure to arrive at PSG’s Marrakech training camp, followed by the weakest of excuses, led to his exclusion from the first team and has all but left him on the outskirts of the team.

Blanc has already declared he is looking for a left-sided attacker this January, making it clear to the Argentine that he is now surplus to requirements at the Parc des Princes.

There have been links with moves to both Liverpool, per The Telegraph, and Inter Milan, via La Gazetta dello Sport (h/t Eurosport France); both would benefit greatly by acquiring a player of Lavezzi’s ability. It was only last May that the 29-year-old started in a World Cup final.

However, it would be Lavezzi himself that would have most to gain from leaving Ligue 1 this month. One last big move could see him regain first-team football, still with plenty to offer a top European side.

Despite only starting eight league games, Lavezzi is still PSG’s fourth top goalscorer with two goals. That’s the same as countryman Javier Pastore, although he has started 10 more games in Ligue 1.

Last campaign, Lavezzi scored nine times in the league and added two important goals in the Champions League, one of which was the opening goal against Chelsea at the Parc des Princes.

What Lavezzi brings is a drive and a determination to make things happen in the final third. His ability to pick out teammates with pinpoint crosses may be lacking at times, but he asks questions of defenders and his runs open space for others to exploit.

The nine goals he managed last season were as many as he scored in his final season at Napoli, and there is nothing to suggest he couldn’t match that figure again.

Lavezzi still has the pace to get in behind defences, his driving style would suit both the high-octane action of the Premier League and in Serie A, where width is at times at a premium.

Quite often, South American players like to return to their homeland in the twilight of their career, or they like to talk about it. Before his 30th birthday, Lavezzi has a chance to make one last move in Europe and show PSG that he was still good enough to be part of their lineup.

Perhaps, it is his lack of versatility that has marginalised his position in the PSG attack. Lucas Moura can play on either flank and is adept at playing behind the strikers, or even as one of them. Lavezzi likes his role on the left, using his left foot to devastating effect when he is on form.

The biggest problem that Lavezzi will face this month is finding a club willing to take on his reported €100,000-a-week salary, per TSM Plug. Once you are earning a premium PSG income, players will find it hard for clubs on a smaller budget to offer them an escape route.

Lavezzi will have the way up the financial benefits of staying in Paris without regular first-team football, compared to the more rewarding advantages of playing regular football.

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