Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 6y

PSG to sign Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting; Timothy Weah won't be loaned - source

Paris Saint-Germain will complete the signing of midfielder Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on a free transfer on Friday and will not loan United States international Timothy Weah, a source close to the deal has told ESPN FC.

The 29-year-old Germany-born Cameroon international will arrive as a free agent as Stoke City look to get his hefty salary off their books after relegation from the Premier League last season.

According to the source, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel wanted a versatile replacement for Goncalo Guedes in attack after his move to Valencia went through.

The German manager knows Choupo-Moting's versatility from their time together with Mainz 05, and the former Schalke 04 and Hamburger SV man shares Julian Draxler and Thilo Kehrer's representatives which made it a relatively straightforward agreement.

Choupo-Moting will sign a three-year contract at Parc des Princes, said the source, and his arrival should be made official around the same time as that of Juan Bernat from Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere, PSG remain in the hunt for a new central midfielder, with Bayern's Renato Sanches and Celta Vigo's Stanislav Lobotka the lead names.

The source indicated that Giovani Lo Celso is likely to depart before the transfer window closes because Tuchel has little need for him.

However, Weah will not be departing on loan despite interest from Strasbourg and Angers, among others, and should be offered a new contract soon.

Weah, 18, was the star of PSG's preseason in Austria, Singapore and China, scoring two goals in four matches and then adding his first Ligue 1 goal in a 3-0 home win over Caen in the opener.

According to a source earlier this month, Strasbourg had informed PSG of their interest in taking Weah on loan with or without an option to buy but were told that a deal was unlikely.

PSG told the club they would consider whether a temporary move for guaranteed regular first-team football would be more beneficial for Weah than staying with the club this season.

However, PSG also told Strasbourg that they were counting on Weah to feature regularly this campaign and provide Tuchel with depth in attack.

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