Upon his arrival at PSG a year ago, Lucas Chevalier was hailed as the prospective future goalkeeper for the French national team. Yet, following a significantly underwhelming season, he found himself omitted from the World Cup squad. Now, discussions surrounding his future are intensifying, with analysts from After Foot strongly recommending that the former Lille shot-stopper seriously consider a loan spell.
While PSG has maintained a relatively low profile in the transfer market thus far, the club is actively seeking reinforcements in the attacking sector, particularly to offset the departures of Lee Kang-In and Gonçalo Ramos. In line with this strategy, the transfer of Maghnes Akliouche is reportedly nearing completion, and he is not expected to be the sole addition to the Parisian offensive line. Simultaneously, the capital club is pursuing a surprising development, with negotiations said to be underway for the transfer of Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma. This potential acquisition undoubtedly casts a shadow over Lucas Chevalier‘s prospects.
Recruited just a year ago for €40M, excluding bonuses, from LOSC, the French custodian was envisioned as the successor to Gianluigi Donnarumma and a future pillar for Les Bleus, offering genuine competition to Mike Maignan. However, the reality has been starkly different: not only did he lose his starting position at PSG, but he was also overlooked for the World Cup, with Didier Deschamps opting for Brice Samba and Robin Risser as backups to the AC Milan keeper.
Chevalier’s situation sparks debate
It is against this backdrop that Lucas Chevalier‘s future at PSG appears increasingly uncertain. For sports pundit Walid Acherchour, the time has come for the French goalkeeper to seek playing time elsewhere. “If I were Chevalier, I would arrange a loan. I’d have a conversation with Luis Enrique, and if he doesn’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 choice. Engaging in a battle with Safonov, who had an incredible season… At what point can we doubt Safonov and reshuffle the cards? He delivered an outstanding second half of the season and was crucial. On one side, you have a goalkeeper maximizing his potential, on the other, one minimizing it. We’re not a youth club; we’re not here to give out favors; we’re at PSG. So, Safonov is number one, Chevalier number two. It would take a monumental collapse from Safonov for Chevalier to regain the lead…,” Acherchour elaborated during an After Foot broadcast.
“If i were Chevalier, i’d get myself loaned out”
Furthermore, Walid Acherchour recalled that even last summer, he had hoped PSG would allow Lucas Chevalier to spend a season on loan at LOSC. “If I were Lucas Chevalier or even his entourage, I would be questioning, not a permanent departure as that would be excessive, but he needs to play; he absolutely must play. The market opportunity for PSG was good last year, but I was among those who thought 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 is nothing short of a disaster…”
“You feel the psg jersey weighs 150kg”
Presently, Lucas Chevalier faces stiff competition from Matvey Safonov, who is widely expected to begin the season as the number one goalkeeper, despite Luis Enrique’s reputation for unpredictability. The Russian, having arrived after an impressive season, has demonstrated superior mental fortitude compared to Lucas Chevalier. “Safonov is a true character with a strong personality, and you sense he’s more integrated into the squad than Chevalier. With one goalkeeper, you feel the PSG jersey weighs 150kg, but for the other, it feels very light. I remain convinced that Chevalier is a better goalkeeper than Safonov, but he isn’t showing it,” Walid Acherchour concluded. In contrast, Elton Mokolo, also 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 I’d fight for my place. Chevalier’s advantage is that he has a coach who will give him another chance; there will be rotation.”