Argentinian manager Mauricio Pochettino had some time to get his star-filled squad aligned but it is not going as smoothly as most expected. Along with getting Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in sync – Pochettino also has to reduce the size of the squad that is at his disposal in Paris.With 33 players at the club having recorded minutes for the star-studded first team – Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly looking to trim their squad this January transfer window.As many as seven players could be seen at the exit door of Parc de Princes and the biggest unknown amongst the widely known substitutes is the future of Mauro Icardi.L’Equipe reports that Pochettino would like to work with fewer players on a daily basis and the rumour has it that club chief Nasser Al Khelaïfi and sporting director Leonardo are willing to grant his wishes during the next transfer window.Who, when, how: Champions League knockout stage explainedThe Parisians have recruited a number of high-profile names over the summer as they bid to finally get their hands on the Champions League trophy – Messi, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma all joined and now is looks like the times has come to cut the excess off.Reducing the wage bill comes along with trimming the squad, which the executives of the club like to see. The overall plan includes the departure of as many as seven players and Icardi is the most high-profile of the lot. With his well-publicized marriage crisis playing a role in his under-par displays on the pitch, the 28-year-old has struggled to settle in the capital of France.Neymar, Mbappe, Messi and Angel di Maria are expectedly Pochettino’s first choices in the attacking third while Icardi is fifth in line and the Parisians are reportedly looking to offload the striker for 55 million USD.Play me or let me go: Gini’s Parisian days are filled with frustrationFollowing Icardi, defender Abdou Diallo also faces an uncertain future at PSG. Due to the arrival of youngster Nuno Mendes from Sporting, Diallo has seen his game time limited.Someone who has also played very little this season and could move on this January is central midfielder Rafinha and it is more than likely the Brazilian will leave the ‘City of Light’.The full-back Layvin Kurzawa faced little chance of featuring under Pochettino even though he signed a contract until 2024 during the pandemic.Sun, 22.45: (1.50) PSG (4.60) MONACO (7.00)Leonardo and Al Khelaïfi are also expected to put right back Colin Dagba, former Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico and young midfielder Éric Junior Dina-Ebimbe on the transfer list.Regardless of the potential changes on the squad list, PSG’s pursuit after the much sought Champions League title continues. After finishing second behind Manchester City in their group, the French giants have booked their place in the last-16 of the competition. In the next round, they might face massive opponents such as Bayern Munich or Liverpool and the Saints will surely hope to avoid them.
