FC Porto left-back Alex Telles looks all set to become Paris Saint-Germain’s latest recruit after reports emerged confirming a deal has been reached between the two European sides. With only a year left on his Porto contract, the 27-year-old has agreed to join PSG for a reported fee of around €25 million.
Despite being linked with a move to Premier League giants Chelsea, Telles seems to have preferred the option of lining alongside his fellow countrymen, Neymar, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos at the Parc des Princes.
The report even goes on to explain that PSG’s sporting director Leonardo Araújo was in negotiation with the player’s entourage for the last few days so that a deal can be finalized as soon as possible.
So, with PSG trying to be proactive in the upcoming summer transfer window, we have tried to analyze whether Alex Telles will be a good fit for the recently-crowned Ligue 1 champions.
Pros
Getting a world-class replacement for Layvin Kurzawa:
With Layvin Kurzawa on the verge of leaving the French champions as a free agent this summer, having failed to agree on an extension, PSG were left with no options other than signing a possible replacement beforehand. So, with the potential arrival of the offensive full-back, PSG are about to get a proper like-for-like replacement, if not better.
Regarded as one of the best in his trade at this moment, Alex Telles is a modern-day full-back who can not only unlock opposition defences with his positioning, movements, and delivering abilities, but he’s also a tenacious tackler with moderate defensive persona.
Telles is a diminutive, fast-attacking, mobile, and technically gifted left-back, who can fit in a variety of roles from a left-sided wing-back to a left-winger. Besides, Telles is an experienced campaigner with a steady head on his shoulder and knows what it takes to put in the hard yards week in, week out.
Offensive qualities:
Anyone who has followed PSG over the last few years should be well aware of the fact that the French giants are counted amongst one of those elite European clubs, who put more emphasis on playing an attacking brand of football.
With Layvin Kurzawa and Thomas Meunier trying to push forward all the time, Thomas Tuchel has always marshalled his troops in a way that complements their talismanic attackers in the form of Edinson Cavani, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Mauro Icardi. With Alex Telles and Juan Bernat at his disposal, the German tactician will have the ‘good’ headache of picking one between the two class left-backs, a sign of having a top-notch squad.
So far this season for Porto, the 27-year-old has been in sensational form, with the Brazilian international managing to find the back of the net 10 times, besides providing nine assists.
Telles has made a name for himself at Porto because of his attacking abilities. In 180 odd appearances for the Portuguese giants, the gifted left-back has already provided 52 assists, in addition to scoring 21 goals.
European pedigree:
Over the past few years, the only competition which has eluded Paris Saint-Germain is the UEFA Champions League. Despite PSG’s unprecedented success in the domestic arena, the French giants have failed to prove their continental supremacy, with the players often been targeted due to their lack of temperament in handling crunch situations.
However, Telles is not someone who is new to playing in such big European nights. The 27-year-old has already appeared 31 times in Europe’s elite club competition for both Porto and Turkish outfit Galatasaray. So, with Telles in their ranks, PSG will have the bonus of having someone who has proven European pedigree under his belt.
Cons
Defensive flaws:
Despite improving a lot as his career progressed over time, Alex Telles still has his work cut out in the way he defends. Often cited as a weakness by certain pundits, Telles has a tendency to dive into tackles. Besides, his decision-making ability has been a subject of continuous scrutiny from a section of football fans and pundits.
So, with PSG trying to improve their defensive organization, which has often been regarded as their Achilles’ heel, it remains to be seen if Telles is the right man for the job.
Verdict
To sum it up, Alex Telles to PSG looks a good fit for the time being, given the qualities the 27-year-old posses on and off the field. Besides, €25 million for a player of Telles’ calibre looks a bargain at the moment.