Yuri Berchiche is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain after just one season and is close to joining La Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao, a source with knowledge of the transfer has told ESPN FC.
Berchiche, 28, who scored two goals and provided three more assists from 22 ligue 1 appearances, was signed from the Basque giants’ bitter rivals Real Sociedad last summer for €13 million plus a potential additional €3m in bonuses at the insistence of then-coach Unai Emery.
Despite a solid debut season at Parc des Princes, which saw him usurp Layvin Kurzawa as the preferred starting left-back, the source said that Berchiche is not viewed as indispensable by Emery’s replacement Thomas Tuchel.
Berchiche, who spent time with Tottenham Hotspur and Athletic as a youngster, should complete his Bilbao move before the end of this week — most likely Saturday as it is the final day of June and PSG’s deadline to fall in line with UEFA’s short-term financial fair play (FFP) goals.
According to the source, Berchiche will cost Athletic €20m and sign a four-year contract at Nuevo San Mames, with Les Parisiens standing to earn less than €5m more in additional bonuses.
Once taken care of, PSG will turn their attention towards strengthening in their areas of need this summer. Gianluigi Buffon has already been lined up in goal on a free transfer and could be unveiled as early as next week, while top quality options at left-back and in central midfield are high on Tuchel’s list of priority signings.
Jonathan Johnson covers PSG and the French national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @Jon_LeGossip.
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