PSG: More new faces to follow Florenzi?

There will be no let-up in the fixture schedule in the coming weeks for Paris Saint-Germain and France’s other UEFA Champions League representatives. But PSG coach Thomas Tuchel must do without Angel di María for his team’s next four Ligue 1 Uber Eats games, while left-back Juan Bernat is out with a long-term knee injury. Throw in the fact that a host of players left over the summer - Edinson Cavani, Thiago Silva, Thomas Meunier, Tanguy Kouassi and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting most notably - and Tuchel could clearly do with some reinforcements.

So far, apart from Mauro Icardi signing a permanent deal, the only major arrival has been that of right-back Alessandro Florenzi (pictured below) on loan from Roma. While another new face in defence is a possibility, PSG are believed to want to strengthen in midfield, where they have been closely linked with a loan move for Chelsea’s Tiémoué Bakayoko. The 26-year-old was born in Paris and knows the French game perfectly from his time spent at Stade Rennais FC and AS Monaco. PSG have until Monday’s deadline to do a deal.

"I honestly don't know if we are going to sign anyone," said Tuchel on Thursday. "There are still a few days to go and I am confident."

Lyon await Pellistri and moves for Aouar, Depay

Lucas Paquetá completed his €20 million move to OL from AC Milan on a five-year deal on Wednesday, and the Brazilian international midfielder is unlikely to be the last new face to arrive at the Groupama Stadium before the transfer window shuts. Uruguayan winger Facundo Pellistri, 18, is expected to sign from Peñarol.

But their absence from Europe this season means there is a pressing need to sell, and president Jean-Michel Aulas gave an update on Wednesday of potential moves for Houssem Aouar and Jeff Reine-Adélaïde on the sidelines of Paquetá’s unveiling.

“Hertha Berlin are keener than anyone else. They have an ambitious project but for the moment unfortunately there is no agreement between Hertha and Jeff and apparently he has not reached agreement with anyone else,” Aulas said of Reine-Adélaïde (pictured below), who has also been closely linked to Rennes.

Aouar, meanwhile, has been linked to Arsenal as well as Juventus but Aulas said: “There has not been much progress. We know three of the biggest clubs in Europe are interested in Houssem - two in the short-term and one more in the medium-term - but negotiations are difficult. Not every club can come up with the kind of money needed. Barcelona for example are in real difficulty.”

That last comment could have implications for Memphis Depay, who is in the final year of his contract and is believed to be wanted by Barça coach Ronald Koeman. Might he and Aouar both end up staying put?

Rennes: Work done?

If no move is done for France Under-21 midfielder Reine-Adélaïde, who has been linked with a move to Brittany for up to €25 million, Rennes may well have done all their transfer business ahead of their debut Champions League campaign.

After spending a reported €32 million on Moroccan centre-back Nayef Aguerd and attacking duo Serhou Guirassy and Martin Terrier, Rennes added Senegalese goalkeeper Alfred Gomis this week as a direct replacement for his compatriot Edouard Mendy, sold to Chelsea.

In addition they have kept hold of starlet Eduardo Camavinga, and while coach Julien Stéphan is said to want another defender, he already has a strong squad at his disposal.

Saint-Etienne look to replace Fofana

AS Saint-Etienne manager Claude Puel had resisted for such a long time the attempts by English Premier League clubs to lure away defensive starlet Wesley Fofana but they could not turn down Leicester City’s latest bid this week which represented a record for Les Verts at a reported €40 million.

That money will do the world of good to Saint-Etienne off the pitch, but Puel now faces a battle to add a new defender to his squad before the transfer window closes as his team look to keep up their good start to the campaign.

They have been linked with Croatia’s Filip Benkovic, who belongs to Leicester, Puel’s old club. They have also been linked with Malang Sarr, who left OGC Nice in the summer to join Chelsea but who is expected to now be loaned out by the London club. Again it promises to be a busy few days at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

No more moves at Marseille?

Olympique de Marseille appear to have done all their transfer business after completing the signing of 18-year-old Brazilian forward Luis Henrique from Botafogo for a reported fee of around €8 million. His arrival follows those of veteran Japanese full-back Yuto Nagatomo on a free transfer, Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi on loan from Borussia Dortmund, and ex-Le Havre midfield prospect Pape Gueye.

Elsewhere, Girondins de Bordeaux are hoping to strengthen in midfield having been linked with a move for Wylan Cyprien from Nice (pictured above taking a penalty against Saint-Etienne last season). Their need will become all the more pressing if any bids are received for the gifted Toma Basic, who is being watched by a host of foreign clubs. And Dijon are desperately looking for a goalkeeper after selling Gomis to Rennes, hot on the heels of the departure of Iceland’s Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson to Arsenal.

If the likes of LOSC, AS Monaco and Nice all appear to have completed their business, an interesting few days still lie in store.