Paris Saint-Germain forward Julian Draxler set for SL Benfica loan move

Paris Saint-Germain forward Julian Draxler is set for a move to SL Benfica, according to Dairo Record.

New manager Cristophe Galtier does not see him as a part of his plans for the new season, and the German is now close to joining Roger Schmidt’s side.

The former Schalke 04 man is already in Lisbon to complete his medical examinations and sign his contract with Benfica.

He will join on a loan deal with the French giants agreeing to pay a large part of his €7 million a year salary for the duration of the loan spell.

Draxler played 24 times in all competitions under former manager Mauricio Pochettino last season, contributing two goals and one assist.

However, a knee injury last March ended his 2021/22 campaign abruptly, and he is yet to feature for PSG since his 13 minutes cameo in the 3-0 loss to AS Monaco last season.

Having progressed with his recovery, he is now waiting for his official return to action, and his next competitive game will be in the colours of Benfica.

Draxler emerged as a top talent in Germany after progressing through the youth ranks at Schalke 04. Some pundits even tagged him as a generational talent.

He showcased his talents during his four-year stay at the Bundesliga side with 30 goals and 29 assists in 170 appearances for Die Königsblauen.

His performances earned him a big-money move to VFL Wolfsburg, who were trying to replace Kevin De Bruyne at the time. They shelled out around €46m to snap him up.

He spent just two years with Die Wolfe, contributing eight goals and ten assists in 45 appearances across all competitions before PSG came seeking his services.

Wolfsburg obliged but not before the French giants parted ways with around €36m to take him to the Parc des Princes.

Draxler is a positionally ambiguous player, but some prefer to call him versatile. He can play every position except defence, but his preferred role is still known only to him.

However, the arrival of Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz means playing opportunities in the middle of the park will be hard to come by, especially with Galtier favouring a double six in his 3-4-3 setup.

With the prolific trident of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and the in-form Neymar ahead of him in the pecking order in attack, Draxler now has a chance for a fresh start in Portugal.