By Betsefy
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract at the Parc des Princes.
The 30-year-old has been an integral cog for the French champions for a number of years now, despite a consistently difficult time with injuries.
Verratti arrived at the Parc des Princes from Pescara for a €12m (£10.5m) fee in the summer of 2012, and the Italy international has since made 398 appearances in navy blue.
Verratti has scored 11 goals and set up 61 more for Les Parisiens in that time, winning eight Ligue 1 titles, six Coupe de France crowns, six Coupe de la Ligue titles and nine Trophee des Champions honours.
The lynchpin most recently extended his deal with PSG back in October 2019, and those terms are now due to expire in under two years’ time.
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However, given his importance to Christophe Galtier‘s setup, the Ligue 1 champions are expected to agree a new contract with Verratti in the near future.
According to Mundo Deportivo, PSG are on the brink of tying Verratti down to a new deal until the end of the 2025-26 season and want to finalize the agreement before Christmas.
The report adds that Verratti has been presented with exit routes from the Parc des Princes over the years, most notably to Barcelona, but PSG fended off the Blaugrana’s interest with a new-and-improved contract.
Now, Verratti is said to be happy and comfortable with life in Paris, and he remains one of Galtier’s first-choice midfielders despite the summer additions of Vitinha, Renato Sanches, Carlos Soler and Fabian Ruiz.
Verratti has one assist from 20 games in a PSG shirt this term, having often been paired with Portuguese playmaker Vitinha in Galtier’s 3-4-3 system, and PSG can ramp up contract talks with the midfielder during the World Cup break following Italy’s failure to qualify for the tournament.
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As well as Verratti, PSG football advisor Luis Campos is thought to be working on contract extensions for a number of other players, most notably Lionel Messi.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has now settled in Ligue 1 after a difficult debut season, but his deal is also due to expire in 2023, and a sensational return to Barcelona has been mooted.
Messi is currently focusing on the upcoming World Cup with Argentina, but he is expected to sit down with the club and discuss his future following the tournament as PSG seek to extend his contract.
Defenders Sergio Ramos and Presnel Kimpembe are also thought to be in line for contract extensions, but the latter has now been ruled out of the World Cup after failing to recover properly from an Achilles injury.
PSG entered the World Cup break five points clear of Lens at the top of the Ligue 1 table after winning 13 and drawing two of their opening 15 games – only Napoli also remain unbeaten in the top five European leagues.
