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Paris St-Germain to flex financial muscles with move for Chelsea ace

| 11.07.2011

Nicolas Anelka could become the first casualty of the Andre Villas-Boas era following a £9m bid from Paris Saint-Germain.

Villas-Boas is eager to lower the average age of his squad and despite scoring seven goals in eight Champions League starts last season, Anelka is deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

Anelka plied his trade at Paris Saint-Germain as a trainee before moving to Arsenal as an 18-year-old and returned to the French club in 2000 following an unsuccessful spell at Real Madrid.

At 32 years of age Anelka is just a year younger than his new manager and following a history of trouble with authority, Villas-Boas is eager to offload Anelka despite his haul of 16 goals last season.

While it would be harsh to say Anelka is entering his twilight years and I wouldn’t want to suggest Anelka is in for the money, but a move to Paris Saint-Germain would appeal to the Frenchman after the Qatari-based Qatar Investment Authority brought out the French club.

PSG are ready and willing to splash some cash in this transfer window and having already convinced Leonardo to leave Inter to take up the director of football role, the new investors are keen to land Anelka.

A pay day looms for Anelka if he is willing to move to Paris Saint-Germain and with the wealth that is available to the club, a challenge for the Ligue 1 title should be on next season.

Paris Saint-Germain finished fourth last season but have been installed as the 11/4 third favourites behind Lyon and Marseille to win the French league next season, and should Leonardo land some of the big names that have been linked with the club, a title challenge is on.

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Author

Robbie Morris

Robbie studied sports journalism at the University of Gloucestershire, an establishment chosen for its proximity to Cheltenham racecourse, where he was a season ticket holder. Upon graduation, Robbie was a contributor to GolfPunk, a national magazine aimed at ridding golf of its traditionalist image, before joining the news.ladbrokes team.