The transfer window closed on Monday in France, and PSG, as has become commonplace, found themselves at the centre of the activity. Not only for the acquisition of star striker Mauro Icardi, or the end of the Neymar saga (for now at least), but for the manner in which the club has chosen to fuel their incoming transfer activity – the sale of young, often home-grown, talent.

The rumours of Barcelona’s pursuit of Neymar – the permutations and combinations of money, and players that would be heading Paris’ way in exchange for the sought-after Brazilian dominated the headlines. Then, as the transfer deadline approached the news that the disgruntled Icardi was willing to give up on his return to the Inter Milan squad, exchanging the north of Italy for L’ile de France, had the football universe buzzing. In the end only one of those transfers came to pass with Icardi signing a loan deal with the French champions. However, under the surface PSG’s new sporting director Leonardo had quietly put together a productive window – addressing the various squad needs by bringing in Ander Herrera, Idrissa Gueye, Pablo Sarabia, and Abdou Diallo – all for a mere €80m.