Chelsea, Man Utd Get Transfer Boost: Expert Warns PSG Against Pursuing Leipzig Star

Paris Saint-Germain are looking to bolster their defense this summer transfer window, particularly focusing on the center-back position. One name in the rumor mill is RB Leipzig standout Castello Lukeba.

Lukeba is in his first year with the German side, where he’s generating a lot of interest from prominent clubs in Europe. While the 21-year-old fits the profile of what PSG wants in their targets: young and French, one expert warns against pursuing the player.

CBS Sports reporter Jonathan Johnson spoke with PSG Talk for an exclusive interview and weighed in on the Lukeba rumor. Johnson notes that he’s a major fan of the former Olympique Lyonnais sensation, but pursuing Lukeba should be on hold until the Xavi Simons situation is figured out.

“Castello Lukeba was somebody I was very, very high on during his time with Lyon,” Johnson said. “Obviously, he’s continued his development with Leipzig. I’m wary of any business with Leipzig at this moment in time, probably revolving around if PSG wants a Leipzig player that’s not Xavi Simons, then Leipzig, logically, are going to want to extend Xavi Simons’ stay by at least another year. 

“I don’t think that that’s a particularly good trade-off if you’re PSG, and for that reason and that reason alone, I probably wouldn’t make Lukeba, at this moment in time, a priority pursuit.”

Regardless of whether PSG is in the mix or not, there are other suitors keen on Lukeba. Reports suggest that the Frenchman is on Chelsea and Manchester United’s radar to bolster their defense this summer. 

The lure of playing at Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford are good alternatives for the player should PSG miss out on him.