A year ago, when Lucas Chevalier joined Paris Saint-Germain, he was widely touted as the future guardian of the French national team. Yet, following a profoundly disappointing season, he found himself omitted from the World Cup squad. Now, discussions surrounding his career trajectory are intensifying, with voices from the football analysis program After Foot even suggesting the former Lille shot-stopper should seriously consider a loan spell away from the capital club.
While PSG has maintained a relatively low profile in the transfer market so far, the club is actively seeking to bolster its offensive line, particularly to offset the departures of Lee Kang-In and Gonçalo Ramos. In this context, the transfer of Maghnes Akliouche appears close to completion, and he is likely not the only reinforcement destined for the Parisian attack. Concurrently, the capital club is pursuing a rather unexpected move, with negotiations reportedly underway for the transfer of Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma. This potential acquisition certainly casts a shadow over Lucas Chevalier’s prospects.
Recruited just a year ago for €40M, excluding bonuses, from LOSC, the French goalkeeper was initially expected to challenge Gianluigi Donnarumma and represent the future of the French national team, providing genuine competition for Mike Maignan. However, the reality has been starkly different: he not only lost his starting position at PSG but also missed out on a World Cup call-up, as Didier Deschamps opted for Brice Samba and Robin Risser as backups to the AC Milan custodian.
Chevalier’s situation ignites debate!
Against this backdrop, Lucas Chevalier’s future at PSG appears increasingly uncertain. For analyst Walid Acherchour, the time has come for the French goalkeeper to seek playing opportunities elsewhere. “If I were Chevalier, I would request a loan. I’d have a conversation with Luis Enrique, and if he couldn’t guarantee me the number one spot, I wouldn’t fight for it; I’d ask for a loan to play, and then perhaps return to PSG as the primary goalkeeper. Competing with Safonov, who had an incredible season… At what point can we doubt and reshuffle the cards with Safonov? He had an amazing second half of the season; he was crucial. On one side, you have a goalkeeper maximizing his potential, on the other, one minimizing it. We’re not at a youth club; we’re not here to give out favors; we’re at PSG. So, Safonov is number one, Chevalier is number two. It would take a significant collapse from Safonov to see Chevalier reclaim his spot…” Acherchour elaborated during the After Foot broadcast.
“If I were chevalier, I would request a loan”
Walid Acherchour further recalled that even last summer, he had hoped PSG would loan Lucas Chevalier back to LOSC for a season. “If I were Lucas Chevalier, or even his entourage, I’d be asking questions – not about a permanent departure, as that would be excessive, but he needs to play; he must play. The market opportunity for PSG was good last year, but I was among those who believed he should have been left on loan at Lille for a year. Well, I say a lot of nonsense, but in this case… For now, his transfer to PSG has been a disaster…”
“You feel the psg jersey weighs 150kg”
Presently, Lucas Chevalier faces stiff competition from Matvey Safonov, who will be remembered as the starting goalkeeper during PSG’s second Champions League campaign. The Russian is expected to begin the season with the number one status, though with Luis Enrique, nothing is ever truly set in stone. However, the former Krasnodar goalkeeper has demonstrated superior mental fortitude compared to Lucas Chevalier. “Safonov is a genuine character with a strong personality, and you feel he’s more integrated into the squad than Chevalier. For one goalkeeper, you sense the PSG jersey weighs 150kg, while for the other, it feels very light. I still believe Chevalier is a better goalkeeper than Safonov, but he isn’t showing it,” Walid Acherchour concluded. Conversely, Elton Mokolo, also present on the After Foot panel, was far less definitive about Lucas Chevalier’s future. “If I were Chevalier, I’d stay. I’d put on some Rocky music and fight for my place. Chevalier’s advantage is that he has a coach who will give him another chance; there will be rotation,” Mokolo asserted.
