Ismaël Gharbi set to sign professional contract at PSG | OneFootball

PSG’s France U18 midfielder Ismaël Gharbi (18) is set to sign his first professional contract at PSG today. The Parisian side fended off some of Europe’s elite, including Liverpool, according to Fabrice Hawkins. The youngster’s imminent signing has since ben confirmed by RMC.

Hawkins is reporting that Liverpool “made him a beautiful offer,” but Gharbi’s priority has always been to remain at PSG, where he has risen through the ranks after joining from Paris FC in 2016. The Frenchman, who has scored 3 times in 4 appearances for the France U18 side, will sign a three-year deal with PSG.

Newly arrived sporting adviser Luis Campos is insisting on a more youth-oriented approach at PSG. According to RMC, Campos wants to create an elite group of between seven and eight academy players, in a notable shift away from PSG’s current functioning. Those players will train with the first team on a weekly basis.

His signature will be perceived as a coup for PSG. Not only have they competed with, and beaten, some of Europe’s top clubs to his signature, it is also a sign that youth players now see a route into the first team at the club. That could not be said to be the case only a matter of months ago when players such as Xavi Simons (19) were questioning their future at the club.