PSG coach discusses Matuidi’s Premier League transfer links

Blaise Matuidi: A fit for Arsenal?

Unai Emery insists he wants to keep Blaise Matuidi at Paris Saint-Germain this season after he responded to suggestions the France star was set to move to the Premier League.

The recently-appointed PSG coach made the signing of Grzegorz Krychowiak from his former club Sevilla his first act at his new club – but the move led to suggestions that Matuidi’s time at the Parc des Princes could be coming to an end.

There were reports emanating in France that Matuidi left the France squad during Euro 2016 to travel to England and discuss a move to an unnamed Premier League club.

Further reports then suggested the player was a target for both Arsenal and Manchester United, with the latter lining up a move for him as an alternative to Paul Pogba.

However, the Spanish coach claims he is looking forward to working with Matuidi and insists he has a part to play at PSG this season.

“Matuidi is a fantastic footballer and he belongs to PSG,” Emery said. “He joins up later because he played the last game, the final of Euro 2016, with the French national team. We’re waiting for him. I’m waiting for him to come back.”

When asked directly about claims he was set for a move to the Premier League, Emery responded: “He is a great footballer and logically I don’t want to dispense with great footballers.

“A situation that is spoken about is that there are a lot of midfielders and that there could be a situation in a given moment that the player could leave, but of course, I as coach am behind him and as the coach, I’m waiting for his return to the team. The circumstances could change that, but in principle, it’s not what I want.”