PSG’s contract clock is ticking: Hakimi gets a pass as Campos tightens the reins

PSG’s contract clock is ticking

Paris Saint‑Germain’s president Nasser Al‑Khelaifi and his right‑hand man, sporting director Luis Campos, are racing against the calendar to seal delicate contracts that will shape the club’s stability for the coming seasons. The aim is simple: lock in the spine of the team so there aren’t awkward surprises when the next window reopens, and the squad isn’t left scrambling to replace key pillars.

According to L’Equipe, once the summer window closed on September 1, PSG launched broad‑ranging maneuvers to preserve core components of the team. After months of lobbying and iterations, the priority is clear: extend bonds with the people who make the machine run smoothly on and off the pitch.

Extensions, negotiations, and a Mbappé question mark

The club recently extended contracts for the Spanish coach Luis Enrique and for players Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha in 2025. The current focus shifts to a broader group of players whose future with PSG could determine how solid the squad looks heading into 2026 and beyond.

Between September and December, Campos has been negotiating with close circles of players to push through new deals before the end of the 2025‑2026 season. Beyond Ousmane Dembélé, the team’s star and one of its most recent Ballon d’Or contenders, there are other pressing files including Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz (29) and the young talent Sini Mayo (19) who both face contract expiry in June 2027.

The club is actively seeking to extend these two to avoid a summer 2026 scramble. As for Mbappé, his current contract runs to 2027 with a clause that could allow a one‑year extension, a provision PSG is watching closely while planning contingencies if the star’s register changes this offseason.

In terms of long‑term planning, L’Equipe notes that nine PSG players will see their contracts finish in 2028. Among them are Dembélé (28), Barcola (23), Gonzalo Ramos (24), Marquinhos (31), Lucas Hernandez (29), Lee Kang‑in (24), Lucas Beraldo (21), Quentin Nangantou (18), and Noa Kamara (18). The Barcola file stands out given last summer’s rumored interest from Bayern Munich and Liverpool after a standout season that produced 21 goals and 21 assists in 64 appearances across all competitions.

PSG is discussing salary structure with these players’ representatives, aiming to position a top‑tier salary while preserving room for performance‑based bonuses. While some talks hinge on fixed vs. variable pay, there are notable exceptions—Hakimi being one—where the approach is handled with a customized touch rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all model.

Additionally, the club has reportedly offered Willian Paçho an extension (the Ecuadorian defender’s case being part of the broader discussion around balancing wage brackets), with talks continuing through September as all parties aim for a rapid resolution. Campos’s method has long been to anchor part of a salary with a fixed base and supplement with performance‑based components, though some players remain outside that framework as special cases.

Back to Ligue 1, the league table after seven rounds shows PSG atop the standings with 16 points, ahead of a tight group chasing behind. Marseille, Strasbourg, and Lyon sit tied on 15 points, followed by Monaco and Lens with 13. Lille sits on 11, while Paris FC, Toulouse, and Rennes sit on 10. Brest and Nice are level on 8, Lorient on 7, and Le Havre, Nantes, and Auxerre on 6. Angers are on 5 and Metz at 2 as the season resumes after the international break.

When the league resumes after the October break, PSG will kick off the eighth round by hosting Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes in a fixture that should test whether stability in the squad translates into consistent results on the field.

Humor break (sniper style): If contract talks were a sport, Campos would be crowned MVP every season—except the trophy would be a signature, not a ball. And if Hakimi’s lightning-quick runs were an extension clause, the contract would sign itself while you’re still deciding what to have for lunch. Here’s hoping the only thing that takes a hit is the stopwatch, not the squad’s depth.

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