Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has announced the signing of Bayern Munich defender Lucas Hernandez on Sunday, solidifying their fifth acquisition in a week. The French football club has been on a roll, securing new talents since the appointment of Luis Enrique as coach just days ago.
Lucas Hernandez, a prominent figure in France's triumphant 2018 World Cup campaign, joins the ranks of Manuel Ugarte, Milan Skriniar, Marco Asensio, and Lee Kang-in as PSG's new additions at the Parc des Princes. The Qatari-backed side has tied down Hernandez to a long-term deal, extending until 2028. This move marks the first venture into Ligue 1 for the 27-year-old defender.
"I'm feeling so happy, I've been waiting to join PSG for some time now and at last, it's happened," said Hernandez, expressing his delight about the transfer.
While the exact financial details of the transfer remain undisclosed, sources close to the deal estimate the fee to be around 40 million euros ($44 million), a considerable reduction from the initial 80 million euros sought by Bayern Munich.
Nevertheless, concerns about Hernandez's fitness have arisen, given his limited appearances for Bayern Munich, featuring in only 107 matches over a four-year period. The defender has been on the sidelines since suffering a right knee anterior cruciate ligament rupture during France's opening World Cup match against Australia in Qatar.
Hernandez is set to bolster PSG's defensive line, joining forces with Slovakia captain Milan Skriniar, who arrived on a free transfer shortly after Enrique's appointment. Additionally, forward Marco Asensio made a move from Real Madrid, while Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte joined from Sporting CP. The Ligue 1 champions completed their latest signing by acquiring South Korean international Lee Kang-in from Real Mallorca.
Luis Enrique, the former Barcelona and Spain boss, wasted no time in bolstering his squad, actively recruiting players amidst mounting speculation surrounding the future of Kylian Mbappe. PSG faces a challenging situation as they must either sell the superstar player during the current transfer window or risk losing him for free when his contract expires next season.
(With inputs from AFP)
