PSG make shock move for ChoupoMoting as transfer window shuts

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain made a surprise move to sign the Cameroon forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting late on Friday night just before the transfer window closed around Europe.

Choupo-Moting, 29, has signed a two-year deal with the French champions as a free agent after leaving Stoke City, who were relegated from the English Premier League at the end of last season.

It is an intriguing move, and a world away from the blockbuster deals of August 2017 when PSG committed the two biggest transfer fees in history to sign Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

But Choupo-Moting provides an extra option in attack for coach Thomas Tuchel and has plenty of experience at the top level in Germany, where he played for Hamburg, Mainz and Schalke 04.

Choupo-Moting’s arrival follows that of Spanish left-back Juan Bernat, signed for €15 million (RM72 million) from Bayern Munich late in the window for PSG, who are under pressure to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules.

The early closure of the transfer window in England this year, and in Italy, meant a less chaotic final day of August than usual this year.

There were still notable moves elsewhere in France, though, with Lyon spending €22 million on Celtic’s France under-21 international striker Moussa Dembele.

Monaco signed Belgium midfielder Nacer Chadli from West Bromwich Albion on a three-year deal for a fee of €12 million.

Monaco have sold several leading players this summer, most notably France winger Thomas Lemar, who joined Atletico Madrid for €72 million euros.

That was one of the biggest deals anywhere in Europe, although Cristiano Ronaldo’s €100 million move from Real Madrid to Juventus in July eclipsed everything else.

Meanwhile, the home of Dutch winger Memphis Depay was ‘burgled on Friday night’ as he played for Lyon in their Ligue 1 match against Nice.

The damage amounted to around €1.5million, according to reports in France, though police have yet to confirm the true value of the stolen possessions.

According to L’Obs magazine, the burglary occurred while Depay was playing for Lyon in their 1-0 loss to Patrick Vieira’s Nice at the Groupama Stadium.

The 23-year-old former Manchester United winger, who has made 39 appearances and scored nine goals for Holland, isn’t the first high-profile footballer based in France to be targeted by criminals while playing.

Depay isn’t shy in flaunting his wealth on his Instagram account, where he regularly poses wearing expensive clothes and jewellery, while he is also fond of sports cars.